Senate
Session 2024/2025
118 speeches
June 5, 2025
Official Hansard Report - Senate
Download PDF transcriptSession Summary
Simplified for YouThe Senate received the Bermuda Monetary Authority's 2024 annual report, showing strong performance with $17.93 million in net income and growth in the digital assets sector. The main business was debating the Customs Tariff Amendment Act 2025, which reduces import duties on building materials (from 25% to 10%), eliminates duties on motor vehicle parts, and lowers duties on air conditioning equipment. The bill is estimated to save consumers over $16 million annually. A procedural dispute arose when Opposition Leader Senator Jones wanted to go into committee to discuss electrical and plumbing materials he felt were excluded from the reductions.
Key Topics
Bermuda Monetary Authority Annual Report 2024 - overview of financial sector regulation and performanceCustoms Tariff Amendment Act 2025 - reducing duties on building materials, car parts, and air conditioning unitsParliamentary procedure debate over committee process for money billsCost of living relief measures through duty reductions
Bills & Motions
Customs Tariff Amendment Act 2025 - passed second and third readings after committee stage
Minutes from June 2, 2025 - confirmed
Minutes from June 4, 2025 - consideration deferred
Notable Moments
Tie vote (5-5) on whether to skip committee stage, with the President's casting vote defeating the motion
Procedural confusion over whether money bills can be amended in committee, requiring constitutional clarification
Opposition criticism that everyday items like pens, pencils, and toothbrushes still face 25% duty while construction materials get relief
Debate Transcript
118 speeches from 4 speakers
Madam President.
The President
And thank you, Senator the Honourable Crystal Caesar , spokesperson for F inance. INTRODUCTION OF BILLS 286 5 June 202 5 Official Hansard Report B ermuda Senate The President: There are none. FIRST READING OF PUBLIC BILLS The President: There are none. FIRST READING OF PRIVATE BILLS The President: There …
And thank you, Senator the Honourable Crystal Caesar , spokesperson for F inance.
INTRODUCTION OF BILLS
286 5 June 202 5 Official Hansard Report
B ermuda Senate The President: There are none.
FIRST READING OF PUBLIC BILLS
The President: There are none.
FIRST READING OF PRIVATE BILLS
The President: There are none.
QUESTION PERIOD
The President: Senators , we will entertain questions
on the Statement that just has been given by Senator
Caesar , spokesperson for F inance.
Senator Marcus Jones, you have the floor.
QUESTION 1: BERMUDA MONETARY
AUTHORITY ANNUAL REPORT 2024
Sen. Marcus Jones: Good morning, Madam President. Good morning to fellow S enators. Good morning
to the listening public.
Thank you to the Minister of Education,
spokesperson for F inance, for that S tatement this
morning. I just have a few questions.
1How does the BMA plan to manage the rapid
expansion of the digital assets sector while ensuring robust consumer protection?
QUESTION 2: BERMUDA MONETARY
AUTHORITY ANNUAL REPORT 2024
Sen. Marcus Jones: I took note of the significant increases in executive compensations from the Minister's
brief. And my question would be, given the dramatic in-crease in executive compensation and board fees, what benchmarks or justifications were used for these significant increases?
QUESTION 3: BERMUDA MONETARY
AUTHORITY ANNUAL REPORT 2024
Sen. Marcus Jones: And my final question is, how
does the BMA measure the effectiveness of its super-visory frameworks across sectors?
Thank you, Madam President.
The President: Thank you, Senator Marcus Jones,
Opposition L eader [in the Senate] .
Senator Tawana Tannock , you have the floor.
QUESTION 1: BERMUDA MONETARY
AUTHORITY ANNUAL REPORT 2024
Sen. Tawana Tannock: Thank you, Madam President.
1 See response at page 359 My first question relates to information sharing,
and it's with regard to the upcoming CIT. And my ques-tion is regarding any information . . . what is the level of
information shared by the BMA to the Ministry of Fi-nance or to the newly formed Corporate Income Tax Commission with regard to, in particular, entities who
have already declared deferred tax assets in their financial returns to the BMA ? Is that information shared
to the other relevant authorities?
QUESTION 2: BERMUDA MONETARY
AUTHORITY ANNUAL REPORT 2024
Sen. Tawana Tannock: My second question is about
the number of employees in the BMA. And of that num-ber of employees in the BMA, the number of employees who work remotely and the number of employees who
are work permit holders.
SUPPLEMENTARIES
Sen. Tawana Tannock: And my follow -up question to
that is, of those who work remotely, is there any move
to get them to work in person in the office?
And then my second question, my second
question to the follow -up to the work permit question is,
for those work permits that have been issued, what are the training programmes, and have Bermudians been identified to take part in training programmes to take
those posts? Thank you.
The President: Thank you, Senator Ta wana Tannock.
Senator Cunningham, you have the floor.
QUESTION 1: BERMUDA MONETARY
AUTHORITY ANNUAL REPORT 2024
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: Thank you, Madam President. Good morning.
I will just start off with the congratulations to the
BMA. Obviously, they are very important to the regulatory reputation that Bermuda has. And my question,
though, is it seems that the BMA is very reliant on the insurance sector, the licens ing fees from insurers, and
I am just wondering if they are too reliant on the funding
from that one sector. So how sustainable would this
revenue stream be if market conditions or indeed the
CIT or lice nsing volumes change?
QUESTION 2: BERMUDA MONETARY
AUTHORITY ANNUAL REPORT 2024
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: And then my second
question to that would be, are there any upcoming changes to international regulatory standards that might impact our equivalent status with the EU or glob-ally?
Bermuda Senate QUESTION 3: BERMUDA MONETARY
AUTHORITY ANNUAL REPORT 2024
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: And then my third question is how, you know, we are seeing the emerging sectors of FinTech and digital assets, so how is the BMA
supporting local Bermudian participation in those sectors?
SUPPLEMENTARY
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: And a supplemental to
that would be, are there initiatives ( somewhat similar to
my colleague) to ensure that training and job opportunities for Bermudians will appear in those regulated
sectors? Thank you.
The President: Thank you, Senator Cunningham.
[Pause]
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Madam President, I assume that's it for questions from everyone.
The President: Yes, I don't see any other hands.
[Laughter]
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Okay. Thank you.
Madam President, with regard to specifically
Senator T annock 's question with regard to the number
of employees and those who are working locally versus
those who work remotely, my understanding is that . . .
and when she says remotely, I am assuming overseas .
The majority of the employees who work for the Bermuda Monetary Authority are located locally. There are a cache of consultants that they would use who may
work remotely, which obviously they would be on a fee
basis, and so that would be because they have particular expertise that the BMA staff do not actually have
locally. However, the majority of employees are actually working here on I sland.
Now, in terms of local versus work permit holders, that is something that I would have to get additional
information from the BMA on, as I do not have that at
hand.
Now, with regard to the additional questions
that other Senators have had, I have made a note of
them all. I do not believe that I have received answers
to them as yet ; but I do undertake that . . . as and when
I do get those answers, I undertake to provide those
additional answers to Senators once I can get them
from the technical team, from the BMA.
The President: Thank you very much, Senator Caesar.
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT
SENATE VISITORS
The President: And Senators, that is the end of the
Question Period, and we will now move on to the Orders of the D ay.
But before we get into that, I would just like to
acknowledge the presence of certain people in the Chamber . First of all, I would like to welcome Lieutenant-Colonel Edward Lamb, the Permanent Secretary
for National Security, and Dean Le ma, the Principal
Customs Officer, and also Tarita Cartwright, the Ministry Co mptroller of National Security. Welcome to you.
ORDERS OF THE DAY
The President: And so, we move on now to the O rders
of the D ay, and the O rders of the D ay is the resolution
into Committee of the Whole [Senate] for further consideration of the Appropriation Act 2025, together with the Estimates of R evenue and Expenditure for the financial year [2025/26] .
I call on Senator the Honourable Crystal Caesar, the Spokesperson for Finance.
Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: Excuse me, Madam
President.
Before we proceed—
The President: Yes.
Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: Given that the technical
officers are in the Senate at the moment in relation to
Item 3—
The President: Yes.
Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: We would respectfully
ask that we could take the Orders out of order and do
Item 3 first, as opposed to Item 1.
The President: Is there any objection to that motion?
No objection. We will certainly do that.
And so Item 3 then is . . . on our O rders of the
Day, the second reading of the Customs Tariff Amendment Act 2025, and that is in the name of Senator the
Honourable Crystal Caesar, Spokesperson for Fi-nance.
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Thank you.
BILL
SECOND READING
CUSTOMS TARIFF AMENDMENT ACT 2025
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Thank you, Madam
President , and thank you to the team for coming in.
288 5 June 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda Senate Madam President, Honourable [Senators] are
requested to now give consideration to the Bill entitled
the Customs Tariff Amendment Act 2025 .
Madam President, the Bill proposes to amend
the Customs Tariff Act 1970, the principal Act, with measures that :
1. lower the duty rate on building materials and
supplies ;
2. eliminate custom duties on all motor vehicle parts ;
3. lower the duty rates on air conditioning units
and parts ;
4. increase the duty exemption for returning residents ;
5. provide the continuing duty relief available to the Bermuda Hospitals Board for the hospital's
operation supplies ; and
6. lower the rate of duty for diesels and fuel oils
used by BELCO for the production of electricity.
The measures of the Bill affect both the First
Schedule and the Fifth Schedule to the principal Act.
Madam President, it is this Government's goal
to lower the cost of living for Bermuda. In doing so, we
are confident that we will not only ease the daily burden
of making ends meet but also offer new opportunities
for our economic development. One of the major tools that w e have at our disposal in achieving this aim is by
reducing the cost of selected imported goods by lowering rates of custom duties.
The Bill proposes to repeal and replace the
First Schedule of the principal Act in order to lower the
duty rates on building materials and supplies, and air
conditioning units and parts, eliminate customs duties
on motor vehicles parts, and increase the duty exemption for returning residents.
Madam President, the Bill will provide wide -
ranging duty relief on a selected building materials, prefabricated supplies, and raw materials for both interior
and exterior work. This includes, but is not limited to
block, stones, glass, plastics, fabrics, wood, metal,
chemicals, including glues, resins, and paint. The duty
rates associated with 481 tariff codes will be lowered
as follows:
• 429 tariff codes will be lowered from 25 per
cent to 10 per cent, providing cost reductions
of an estimated $4.9 million;
• 8 tariff codes will be lowered from 15 per cent
to 10 per cent, providing cost reductions of an
estimate $293,000; and
• 44 tariff codes will be lowered from 12.5 per
cent to 10 per cent, providing cost reduction of
an estimated $325,000.
It is estimated based on prior year's data that
these amendments will reduce the cost of construction and building repairs for revenue by $5.5 million.
Madam President, the Bill will provide duty relief on air conditioning units and parts. The duty rates
associated with 6 tariff codes will be lowered from 35 per cent to 10 per cent. It is estimated based on prior
year's data that these amendments will reduce the duty cost on these items by over $1.8 million.
Madam President, the Bill will provide wide -
ranging duty relief on parts and supplies for motor vehicle repairs, including but not limited to engines, transmission shafts, gaskets, electrical, glass, belts, tubing,
and interior furnishings. The duty rates associated with
65 tariff codes will be eliminated as follows:
• 43 tariff codes will go to zero per cent from
35 per cent, providing cost reduction of an estimated full revenue, $2.5 million; and
• 22 tariff codes will go from 25 per cent to zero
per cent, providing cost reductions of an estimate $217,000. It is estimated based on prior
year's data that these amendments will reduce
the cost of repairing Bermuda’s motor vehicles
by a total of $2.7 mil lion.
Madam President, in order to effect the over
500 duty rate amendments necessary to lower the duty rates on building materials and supplies, air conditioning units and parts, and motor vehicle parts, a number of consequential amendments to the First Schedule of
the principal Act were needed in order to maintain the
structure of the Bermuda nomenclature. This necessitated the proposed introduction of 26 new tariff codes,
the deletion of one tariff code, and the amendment of
12 tariff codes. Further, while conducting the review of
the First Schedule to the principal Act, a further 12 textual inconsistencies were identified, which did not impact on any rates of duty in our proposed for amendment.
Madam President, the Bill next provides for an
increase in duty exemption from $200 per person to
$300 per person, an increase of 50 per cent. This rate
allowance was last changed in 2012. Based on prior
year's travel, this is expected to ease the collective tax
burden on returning travellers by an estimated $2 million.
Madam President, I now turn to the measures
of the Bill affecting the Fifth Schedule to the principal Act.
Madam President, the Bill proposes to repeal
and replace End- Use CPC 4240 so as to remove the
existing end- use of condition limiting the period of duty
relief for imported hospital operating supplies to 1 April 2022 through 31 March 2024 only. Honourable [Senators] will r ecall that CPC 4240 was amended in July of
2023 after being introduced in April of 2022, to extend
the duty period relief within which qualifying goods
must be imported to Bermuda to 31 March 2024 from
30 September 2023.
Madam President, after further consideration,
the Minister of Finance, in keeping with the commitment of Government to ensure that our hospitals have adequate resources, considers it expedient to remove
the end use condition requiring that hospital operating
supplies be i mported with a fixed time period. This
amendment is intended to provide continuing duty relief
Bermuda Senate to hospitals administrated by the Bermuda Hospitals
Board by offsetting operating expenses.
Madam President, the Bill next proposes to
amend the End- Use CPC 4703 and CPC 4705 for the
purpose of lowering the rate of duty for diesel and fuel
oils used by BELCO for the production of electricity.
Madam President, in the 2025/26 Budget
Statement in support of the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure, the Government acknowledged the frustration many feel when they open their BELCO bill.
While the Government cannot control the cost of fuel on global markets, we are doing everything within the
power to lower the underlying costs that contribute to
those rates.
Madam President, in 2023 the duty on fuel
used to generate electricity stood at 20 cents per litre.
Honourable [Senators] will recall that in July of 2024 this Government reduced that tax by 60 per cent to
8 cents per litre. This Bill proposes to reduce the tax
further to just 4 cents per litre. The combined effect of
these changes will result in an 80 per cent reduction in
this tax since 2023.
Madam President, this measure demonstrates
the Government's commitment to delivering sustained relief on energy costs. While there is more work to be done across the energy sector, this initiative ensures
that our tax policy supports lower electricity costs for
every hous ehold and business in Bermuda. It is estimated based on prior years' data that this will cut the
Bermudian electricity bill by $1.7 million, in addition to
concessions introduced during 2024/25.
Madam President, this further reduction in the
duty paid on fuel is expected to reduce customs duty revenue by $4.2 million. I will comment further on the measure of the Bill in Committee.
Thank you, Madam President .
The President: Thank you, Senator Caesar, Spokesperson for Finance.
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT
SENATE VISITOR
The President: And before I open it to Senators on the
floor, I would just like to acknowledge the presence in
the Chamber of Alsha Wilson, the Parliamentary Counsel. Welcome to you.
[Customs Tariff Amendment Act 2025, second reading
debate continuing]
The President: Would any Senator care to speak?
Senator Marcus Jones, Opposition Leader in
the Senate, you have the floor.
Sen. Marcus Jones: Thank you, Madam President,
and thank you to the Minister of Education, Spokesman for Finance, for bringing the Customs Tariff [Amendment] Act [2025] to this Chamber at this time. And I will say right off at the start that any way that this
Government can bring some relief to the major construction industry in this country would be supported by
this side of the aisle for sure.
We do note that the tariff reduction went from
25 per cent to 10 per cent. We do applaud that reduction. It is an incredibly big document. If you sat and read
the Schedule . . . and having looked over it with a cup
of tea at midnight last night, something came up . . .
something came to my observation that I would like for some clarity by the Minister if she can give it to us.
I was able to look and see that of all the reductions in tariffs, it appears that the electrical and plumb-ing materials section, those parts were not afforded the
same tariff reduction as some of the other items. And I
would like for her to speak to that b ecause one would
recognise that those two items within the construction
industry are very important and an integral part of any
building development. And one would think that those
basic materials would be a part of this tariff reduction.
I do not know if it was an oversight that was
made. Some clarity is what I am asking for if the Minister would provide that for us.
But in the spirit of reducing these tariffs for
building supplies and materials, we are in support of
that. Thank you, Madam President.
The President: And thank you, Senator Marcus Jones.
Would any other Senator care to speak?
Senator Tannock, you have the floor.
Sen. Tawana Tannock: Thank you, Madam President.
And I echo the congratulations said by my colleague,
Senator Jones, to this reduction. I think anything that
we can do to assist or hope to assist in the cost of living
for Bermudians is great.
And so I think that leads into my question,
which is, so if we reduce the cost of duty for air condi-tioners and air conditioning units and supplies and also
construction items, how are we ensuring that that tax
relief and the benefit of those tax reliefs w ill aid everyday Bermudians when they go into the store to buy an air conditioner to get their air conditioner fixed and for
construction? So how are we able to ensure that this is
passed on?
And I have to applaud the Government for the
tax reliefs that they have made so far, [for] instance with
sanitary products and also with seeds for growth. But
how are we ensuring that these tax reliefs and the ben-efit that the businesses are getting from t he tax reliefs
are passed to the consumer?
So, I would like to know, of these new tax reliefs introduced, how will we ensure that this savings
will be passed to everyday Bermudians? And that's my
first question.
And then my second question is, we are looking at aiding construction firms and air conditioner repairmen, but yet we still have 25 per cent duty on pens,
290 5 June 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda Senate pencils, toothbrushes, combs. I do not own my own
home, and I am not looking to build a home because
quite frankly right now I cannot afford it. But one thing I
do is I buy pens and pencils. I brush my teeth. And, well
actually I have dreadlocks, so I do not comb my hair, but many Bermudians do comb their hair every day.
So, what I would like to know is while these
things are grand and I think anything we can do to re-duce the cost of living is great, why are we not looking
at the smaller items that Bermudians use every day,
that our families use every day? Thank you.
The President: Thank you, Senator Tannock.
While we are waiting for an answer, would any
other Senator care to speak on this Bill?
Hearing none, then we will wait for a response
from the Minister.
[Pause]
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Madam President, in
relation to the question from Senator Jones with regard
to electrical and plumbing materials, are there specific
goods that the Senator is looking at? Because there is
actually or has been a reduction on flex pipe and other plumbing fi xtures. I am not sure if there was a specific
area, item and what have you, but we would need to know which specific electrical goods the Senator is querying because electrical is a broad category. But as
I mentioned, there are some reductions on things such
as flex pipe and many other fixtures and fittings.
And with regard to the question from Senator
Tannock with regard to indicating the reduction across
the spectrum, this specific area of reductions is to as-sist the construction industry specifically, and that is
why you would see it on building materials. There has
been a cry publicly that the cost of building materials is exorbitant, so this will go a long way to ensuring that
construction will continue at a pace where things can
be brought in at cost and then the cost is not necessarily passed on to the b uilder.
And so, the Government has decided to focus
specifically on that because there has been an appeal
for the cost of construction materials to decrease and in doing so, this will help to lower costs for building, potentially for what the cost is of constructi on of a home,
potentially the mortgage, et cetera, et cetera. So, it may
very well filter down.
We will continue to look at reductions as it pertains to the cost of living for other goods and we will
continue to do so and work with retailers and other vendors bringing things in. This specific area of reduction
is . . . because there has been appeal, particularly in
the construction area, to ensure that there is a reduction in the cost of building materials and construction
materials in Bermuda.
The President: Thank you, Minister. With that, then you move your Bill when you
are ready.
[Pause]
[Crosstalk]
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Following the suspension of . . . I am sorry, Madam President. Following . . .
I move that the Bill entitled the Customs Tariff
Amendment Act 2025 be now read a third time . . . second time . . . sorry.
The President: Is there any objection to that motion?
No objection.
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Madam President, I
move that the Bill entitled the Customs Tariff Amendment Act be read a third . . .
[Crosstalk]
SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDER 2 6
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Madam President, I
move that [Standing Order] 26 be suspended in respect of this Bill.
The President: Is there any objection to that motion?
No objection —
Sen. Marcus Jones: Yes, I do have an objection.
Madam President, maybe you can give me
some guidance.
At this stage, I would like the opportunity to go
into Committee to consider some of the items that were
raised in my unreadiness and the questions that I
asked.
Am I able to do that at this stage?
[Crosstalk]
The President: Is there a seconder to that motion?
Senator Cunningham seconded. Then we will
have a division.
So, we are going to vote . . . on this decision.
[Pause]
Sen. Tawana Tannock: Excuse me, Madam President, and I do not know the protocol for this, but what is the question that Senator Jones is awaiting a response to?
The President: Senator Jones has . . . he says he has
a number of issues, and he wanted to raise some ques-tions, and he has asked to go into Committee so that
he can present his objections . . . or further comment.
Bermuda Senate And so, our [Standing Orders] allow for us to
do that if all Senators . . . Well, we are going to take a
vote on it to determine whether or not Senators agree.
Sen. Tawana Tannock: Okay, so Senator Jones is not
awaiting an answer to a specific question. He just has
further questions.
The President: He has further questions that he would
like to take up in Committee . . . for further comment.
Sen. Tawana Tannock: Thank you, Madam President.
The President: So, the Clerk will do . . .
The Deputy Clerk: It has been moved to suspend
Standing Order 26. If you are in agreement with the motion to suspend [Standing Order] 26 say Aye. If you are
against and would prefer to go into Committee, say
Nay.
DIVISION
[Suspension of Standing Order 26]
Ayes: 5 Nays: 5
Sen. L. Bell Sen. V. Cunningham
Sen. the Hon. C. Caesar Sen. M. Foley
Sen. M. Fubler Sen. M. Jones
Sen. L. Simmons Sen. T. Tannock
Sen. the Hon. K. Wilkerson Sen. the Hon. J. Dillas -Wright
Absent: 1
Sen. J. Wight
The Deputy Clerk: With a tie vote of 5– 5, the motion is
lost. So that means we will go into Committee.
[Motion to suspend Standing Order 26 lost (Standing
Order 15).]
The President: And I will call on Senator Tawana Tannock to chair the Committee.
Senate in Committee at 10:53 am
[Sen. Tawana Tannock, Chairman]
COMMITTEE ON BILL
CUSTOMS TARIFF AMENDMENT ACT 2025
INTRODUCTION OF BILLS
286 5 June 202 5 Official Hansard Report
B ermuda Senate The President: There are none.
FIRST READING OF PUBLIC BILLS
The President: There are none.
FIRST READING OF PRIVATE BILLS
The President: There are none.
QUESTION PERIOD
The President: Senators , we will entertain questions
on the Statement that just has been given by Senator
Caesar , spokesperson for F inance.
Senator Marcus Jones, you have the floor.
QUESTION 1: BERMUDA MONETARY
AUTHORITY ANNUAL REPORT 2024
Sen. Marcus Jones: Good morning, Madam President. Good morning to fellow S enators. Good morning
to the listening public.
Thank you to the Minister of Education,
spokesperson for F inance, for that S tatement this
morning. I just have a few questions.
1How does the BMA plan to manage the rapid
expansion of the digital assets sector while ensuring robust consumer protection?
QUESTION 2: BERMUDA MONETARY
AUTHORITY ANNUAL REPORT 2024
Sen. Marcus Jones: I took note of the significant increases in executive compensations from the Minister's
brief. And my question would be, given the dramatic in-crease in executive compensation and board fees, what benchmarks or justifications were used for these significant increases?
QUESTION 3: BERMUDA MONETARY
AUTHORITY ANNUAL REPORT 2024
Sen. Marcus Jones: And my final question is, how
does the BMA measure the effectiveness of its super-visory frameworks across sectors?
Thank you, Madam President.
The President: Thank you, Senator Marcus Jones,
Opposition L eader [in the Senate] .
Senator Tawana Tannock , you have the floor.
QUESTION 1: BERMUDA MONETARY
AUTHORITY ANNUAL REPORT 2024
Sen. Tawana Tannock: Thank you, Madam President.
1 See response at page 359 My first question relates to information sharing,
and it's with regard to the upcoming CIT. And my ques-tion is regarding any information . . . what is the level of
information shared by the BMA to the Ministry of Fi-nance or to the newly formed Corporate Income Tax Commission with regard to, in particular, entities who
have already declared deferred tax assets in their financial returns to the BMA ? Is that information shared
to the other relevant authorities?
QUESTION 2: BERMUDA MONETARY
AUTHORITY ANNUAL REPORT 2024
Sen. Tawana Tannock: My second question is about
the number of employees in the BMA. And of that num-ber of employees in the BMA, the number of employees who work remotely and the number of employees who
are work permit holders.
SUPPLEMENTARIES
Sen. Tawana Tannock: And my follow -up question to
that is, of those who work remotely, is there any move
to get them to work in person in the office?
And then my second question, my second
question to the follow -up to the work permit question is,
for those work permits that have been issued, what are the training programmes, and have Bermudians been identified to take part in training programmes to take
those posts? Thank you.
The President: Thank you, Senator Ta wana Tannock.
Senator Cunningham, you have the floor.
QUESTION 1: BERMUDA MONETARY
AUTHORITY ANNUAL REPORT 2024
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: Thank you, Madam President. Good morning.
I will just start off with the congratulations to the
BMA. Obviously, they are very important to the regulatory reputation that Bermuda has. And my question,
though, is it seems that the BMA is very reliant on the insurance sector, the licens ing fees from insurers, and
I am just wondering if they are too reliant on the funding
from that one sector. So how sustainable would this
revenue stream be if market conditions or indeed the
CIT or lice nsing volumes change?
QUESTION 2: BERMUDA MONETARY
AUTHORITY ANNUAL REPORT 2024
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: And then my second
question to that would be, are there any upcoming changes to international regulatory standards that might impact our equivalent status with the EU or glob-ally?
Bermuda Senate QUESTION 3: BERMUDA MONETARY
AUTHORITY ANNUAL REPORT 2024
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: And then my third question is how, you know, we are seeing the emerging sectors of FinTech and digital assets, so how is the BMA
supporting local Bermudian participation in those sectors?
SUPPLEMENTARY
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: And a supplemental to
that would be, are there initiatives ( somewhat similar to
my colleague) to ensure that training and job opportunities for Bermudians will appear in those regulated
sectors? Thank you.
The President: Thank you, Senator Cunningham.
[Pause]
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Madam President, I assume that's it for questions from everyone.
The President: Yes, I don't see any other hands.
[Laughter]
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Okay. Thank you.
Madam President, with regard to specifically
Senator T annock 's question with regard to the number
of employees and those who are working locally versus
those who work remotely, my understanding is that . . .
and when she says remotely, I am assuming overseas .
The majority of the employees who work for the Bermuda Monetary Authority are located locally. There are a cache of consultants that they would use who may
work remotely, which obviously they would be on a fee
basis, and so that would be because they have particular expertise that the BMA staff do not actually have
locally. However, the majority of employees are actually working here on I sland.
Now, in terms of local versus work permit holders, that is something that I would have to get additional
information from the BMA on, as I do not have that at
hand.
Now, with regard to the additional questions
that other Senators have had, I have made a note of
them all. I do not believe that I have received answers
to them as yet ; but I do undertake that . . . as and when
I do get those answers, I undertake to provide those
additional answers to Senators once I can get them
from the technical team, from the BMA.
The President: Thank you very much, Senator Caesar.
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT
SENATE VISITORS
The President: And Senators, that is the end of the
Question Period, and we will now move on to the Orders of the D ay.
But before we get into that, I would just like to
acknowledge the presence of certain people in the Chamber . First of all, I would like to welcome Lieutenant-Colonel Edward Lamb, the Permanent Secretary
for National Security, and Dean Le ma, the Principal
Customs Officer, and also Tarita Cartwright, the Ministry Co mptroller of National Security. Welcome to you.
ORDERS OF THE DAY
The President: And so, we move on now to the O rders
of the D ay, and the O rders of the D ay is the resolution
into Committee of the Whole [Senate] for further consideration of the Appropriation Act 2025, together with the Estimates of R evenue and Expenditure for the financial year [2025/26] .
I call on Senator the Honourable Crystal Caesar, the Spokesperson for Finance.
Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: Excuse me, Madam
President.
Before we proceed—
The President: Yes.
Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: Given that the technical
officers are in the Senate at the moment in relation to
Item 3—
The President: Yes.
Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: We would respectfully
ask that we could take the Orders out of order and do
Item 3 first, as opposed to Item 1.
The President: Is there any objection to that motion?
No objection. We will certainly do that.
And so Item 3 then is . . . on our O rders of the
Day, the second reading of the Customs Tariff Amendment Act 2025, and that is in the name of Senator the
Honourable Crystal Caesar, Spokesperson for Fi-nance.
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Thank you.
BILL
SECOND READING
CUSTOMS TARIFF AMENDMENT ACT 2025
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Thank you, Madam
President , and thank you to the team for coming in.
288 5 June 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda Senate Madam President, Honourable [Senators] are
requested to now give consideration to the Bill entitled
the Customs Tariff Amendment Act 2025 .
Madam President, the Bill proposes to amend
the Customs Tariff Act 1970, the principal Act, with measures that :
1. lower the duty rate on building materials and
supplies ;
2. eliminate custom duties on all motor vehicle parts ;
3. lower the duty rates on air conditioning units
and parts ;
4. increase the duty exemption for returning residents ;
5. provide the continuing duty relief available to the Bermuda Hospitals Board for the hospital's
operation supplies ; and
6. lower the rate of duty for diesels and fuel oils
used by BELCO for the production of electricity.
The measures of the Bill affect both the First
Schedule and the Fifth Schedule to the principal Act.
Madam President, it is this Government's goal
to lower the cost of living for Bermuda. In doing so, we
are confident that we will not only ease the daily burden
of making ends meet but also offer new opportunities
for our economic development. One of the major tools that w e have at our disposal in achieving this aim is by
reducing the cost of selected imported goods by lowering rates of custom duties.
The Bill proposes to repeal and replace the
First Schedule of the principal Act in order to lower the
duty rates on building materials and supplies, and air
conditioning units and parts, eliminate customs duties
on motor vehicles parts, and increase the duty exemption for returning residents.
Madam President, the Bill will provide wide -
ranging duty relief on a selected building materials, prefabricated supplies, and raw materials for both interior
and exterior work. This includes, but is not limited to
block, stones, glass, plastics, fabrics, wood, metal,
chemicals, including glues, resins, and paint. The duty
rates associated with 481 tariff codes will be lowered
as follows:
• 429 tariff codes will be lowered from 25 per
cent to 10 per cent, providing cost reductions
of an estimated $4.9 million;
• 8 tariff codes will be lowered from 15 per cent
to 10 per cent, providing cost reductions of an
estimate $293,000; and
• 44 tariff codes will be lowered from 12.5 per
cent to 10 per cent, providing cost reduction of
an estimated $325,000.
It is estimated based on prior year's data that
these amendments will reduce the cost of construction and building repairs for revenue by $5.5 million.
Madam President, the Bill will provide duty relief on air conditioning units and parts. The duty rates
associated with 6 tariff codes will be lowered from 35 per cent to 10 per cent. It is estimated based on prior
year's data that these amendments will reduce the duty cost on these items by over $1.8 million.
Madam President, the Bill will provide wide -
ranging duty relief on parts and supplies for motor vehicle repairs, including but not limited to engines, transmission shafts, gaskets, electrical, glass, belts, tubing,
and interior furnishings. The duty rates associated with
65 tariff codes will be eliminated as follows:
• 43 tariff codes will go to zero per cent from
35 per cent, providing cost reduction of an estimated full revenue, $2.5 million; and
• 22 tariff codes will go from 25 per cent to zero
per cent, providing cost reductions of an estimate $217,000. It is estimated based on prior
year's data that these amendments will reduce
the cost of repairing Bermuda’s motor vehicles
by a total of $2.7 mil lion.
Madam President, in order to effect the over
500 duty rate amendments necessary to lower the duty rates on building materials and supplies, air conditioning units and parts, and motor vehicle parts, a number of consequential amendments to the First Schedule of
the principal Act were needed in order to maintain the
structure of the Bermuda nomenclature. This necessitated the proposed introduction of 26 new tariff codes,
the deletion of one tariff code, and the amendment of
12 tariff codes. Further, while conducting the review of
the First Schedule to the principal Act, a further 12 textual inconsistencies were identified, which did not impact on any rates of duty in our proposed for amendment.
Madam President, the Bill next provides for an
increase in duty exemption from $200 per person to
$300 per person, an increase of 50 per cent. This rate
allowance was last changed in 2012. Based on prior
year's travel, this is expected to ease the collective tax
burden on returning travellers by an estimated $2 million.
Madam President, I now turn to the measures
of the Bill affecting the Fifth Schedule to the principal Act.
Madam President, the Bill proposes to repeal
and replace End- Use CPC 4240 so as to remove the
existing end- use of condition limiting the period of duty
relief for imported hospital operating supplies to 1 April 2022 through 31 March 2024 only. Honourable [Senators] will r ecall that CPC 4240 was amended in July of
2023 after being introduced in April of 2022, to extend
the duty period relief within which qualifying goods
must be imported to Bermuda to 31 March 2024 from
30 September 2023.
Madam President, after further consideration,
the Minister of Finance, in keeping with the commitment of Government to ensure that our hospitals have adequate resources, considers it expedient to remove
the end use condition requiring that hospital operating
supplies be i mported with a fixed time period. This
amendment is intended to provide continuing duty relief
Bermuda Senate to hospitals administrated by the Bermuda Hospitals
Board by offsetting operating expenses.
Madam President, the Bill next proposes to
amend the End- Use CPC 4703 and CPC 4705 for the
purpose of lowering the rate of duty for diesel and fuel
oils used by BELCO for the production of electricity.
Madam President, in the 2025/26 Budget
Statement in support of the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure, the Government acknowledged the frustration many feel when they open their BELCO bill.
While the Government cannot control the cost of fuel on global markets, we are doing everything within the
power to lower the underlying costs that contribute to
those rates.
Madam President, in 2023 the duty on fuel
used to generate electricity stood at 20 cents per litre.
Honourable [Senators] will recall that in July of 2024 this Government reduced that tax by 60 per cent to
8 cents per litre. This Bill proposes to reduce the tax
further to just 4 cents per litre. The combined effect of
these changes will result in an 80 per cent reduction in
this tax since 2023.
Madam President, this measure demonstrates
the Government's commitment to delivering sustained relief on energy costs. While there is more work to be done across the energy sector, this initiative ensures
that our tax policy supports lower electricity costs for
every hous ehold and business in Bermuda. It is estimated based on prior years' data that this will cut the
Bermudian electricity bill by $1.7 million, in addition to
concessions introduced during 2024/25.
Madam President, this further reduction in the
duty paid on fuel is expected to reduce customs duty revenue by $4.2 million. I will comment further on the measure of the Bill in Committee.
Thank you, Madam President .
The President: Thank you, Senator Caesar, Spokesperson for Finance.
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT
SENATE VISITOR
The President: And before I open it to Senators on the
floor, I would just like to acknowledge the presence in
the Chamber of Alsha Wilson, the Parliamentary Counsel. Welcome to you.
[Customs Tariff Amendment Act 2025, second reading
debate continuing]
The President: Would any Senator care to speak?
Senator Marcus Jones, Opposition Leader in
the Senate, you have the floor.
Sen. Marcus Jones: Thank you, Madam President,
and thank you to the Minister of Education, Spokesman for Finance, for bringing the Customs Tariff [Amendment] Act [2025] to this Chamber at this time. And I will say right off at the start that any way that this
Government can bring some relief to the major construction industry in this country would be supported by
this side of the aisle for sure.
We do note that the tariff reduction went from
25 per cent to 10 per cent. We do applaud that reduction. It is an incredibly big document. If you sat and read
the Schedule . . . and having looked over it with a cup
of tea at midnight last night, something came up . . .
something came to my observation that I would like for some clarity by the Minister if she can give it to us.
I was able to look and see that of all the reductions in tariffs, it appears that the electrical and plumb-ing materials section, those parts were not afforded the
same tariff reduction as some of the other items. And I
would like for her to speak to that b ecause one would
recognise that those two items within the construction
industry are very important and an integral part of any
building development. And one would think that those
basic materials would be a part of this tariff reduction.
I do not know if it was an oversight that was
made. Some clarity is what I am asking for if the Minister would provide that for us.
But in the spirit of reducing these tariffs for
building supplies and materials, we are in support of
that. Thank you, Madam President.
The President: And thank you, Senator Marcus Jones.
Would any other Senator care to speak?
Senator Tannock, you have the floor.
Sen. Tawana Tannock: Thank you, Madam President.
And I echo the congratulations said by my colleague,
Senator Jones, to this reduction. I think anything that
we can do to assist or hope to assist in the cost of living
for Bermudians is great.
And so I think that leads into my question,
which is, so if we reduce the cost of duty for air condi-tioners and air conditioning units and supplies and also
construction items, how are we ensuring that that tax
relief and the benefit of those tax reliefs w ill aid everyday Bermudians when they go into the store to buy an air conditioner to get their air conditioner fixed and for
construction? So how are we able to ensure that this is
passed on?
And I have to applaud the Government for the
tax reliefs that they have made so far, [for] instance with
sanitary products and also with seeds for growth. But
how are we ensuring that these tax reliefs and the ben-efit that the businesses are getting from t he tax reliefs
are passed to the consumer?
So, I would like to know, of these new tax reliefs introduced, how will we ensure that this savings
will be passed to everyday Bermudians? And that's my
first question.
And then my second question is, we are looking at aiding construction firms and air conditioner repairmen, but yet we still have 25 per cent duty on pens,
290 5 June 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda Senate pencils, toothbrushes, combs. I do not own my own
home, and I am not looking to build a home because
quite frankly right now I cannot afford it. But one thing I
do is I buy pens and pencils. I brush my teeth. And, well
actually I have dreadlocks, so I do not comb my hair, but many Bermudians do comb their hair every day.
So, what I would like to know is while these
things are grand and I think anything we can do to re-duce the cost of living is great, why are we not looking
at the smaller items that Bermudians use every day,
that our families use every day? Thank you.
The President: Thank you, Senator Tannock.
While we are waiting for an answer, would any
other Senator care to speak on this Bill?
Hearing none, then we will wait for a response
from the Minister.
[Pause]
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Madam President, in
relation to the question from Senator Jones with regard
to electrical and plumbing materials, are there specific
goods that the Senator is looking at? Because there is
actually or has been a reduction on flex pipe and other plumbing fi xtures. I am not sure if there was a specific
area, item and what have you, but we would need to know which specific electrical goods the Senator is querying because electrical is a broad category. But as
I mentioned, there are some reductions on things such
as flex pipe and many other fixtures and fittings.
And with regard to the question from Senator
Tannock with regard to indicating the reduction across
the spectrum, this specific area of reductions is to as-sist the construction industry specifically, and that is
why you would see it on building materials. There has
been a cry publicly that the cost of building materials is exorbitant, so this will go a long way to ensuring that
construction will continue at a pace where things can
be brought in at cost and then the cost is not necessarily passed on to the b uilder.
And so, the Government has decided to focus
specifically on that because there has been an appeal
for the cost of construction materials to decrease and in doing so, this will help to lower costs for building, potentially for what the cost is of constructi on of a home,
potentially the mortgage, et cetera, et cetera. So, it may
very well filter down.
We will continue to look at reductions as it pertains to the cost of living for other goods and we will
continue to do so and work with retailers and other vendors bringing things in. This specific area of reduction
is . . . because there has been appeal, particularly in
the construction area, to ensure that there is a reduction in the cost of building materials and construction
materials in Bermuda.
The President: Thank you, Minister. With that, then you move your Bill when you
are ready.
[Pause]
[Crosstalk]
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Following the suspension of . . . I am sorry, Madam President. Following . . .
I move that the Bill entitled the Customs Tariff
Amendment Act 2025 be now read a third time . . . second time . . . sorry.
The President: Is there any objection to that motion?
No objection.
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Madam President, I
move that the Bill entitled the Customs Tariff Amendment Act be read a third . . .
[Crosstalk]
SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDER 2 6
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Madam President, I
move that [Standing Order] 26 be suspended in respect of this Bill.
The President: Is there any objection to that motion?
No objection —
Sen. Marcus Jones: Yes, I do have an objection.
Madam President, maybe you can give me
some guidance.
At this stage, I would like the opportunity to go
into Committee to consider some of the items that were
raised in my unreadiness and the questions that I
asked.
Am I able to do that at this stage?
[Crosstalk]
The President: Is there a seconder to that motion?
Senator Cunningham seconded. Then we will
have a division.
So, we are going to vote . . . on this decision.
[Pause]
Sen. Tawana Tannock: Excuse me, Madam President, and I do not know the protocol for this, but what is the question that Senator Jones is awaiting a response to?
The President: Senator Jones has . . . he says he has
a number of issues, and he wanted to raise some ques-tions, and he has asked to go into Committee so that
he can present his objections . . . or further comment.
Bermuda Senate And so, our [Standing Orders] allow for us to
do that if all Senators . . . Well, we are going to take a
vote on it to determine whether or not Senators agree.
Sen. Tawana Tannock: Okay, so Senator Jones is not
awaiting an answer to a specific question. He just has
further questions.
The President: He has further questions that he would
like to take up in Committee . . . for further comment.
Sen. Tawana Tannock: Thank you, Madam President.
The President: So, the Clerk will do . . .
The Deputy Clerk: It has been moved to suspend
Standing Order 26. If you are in agreement with the motion to suspend [Standing Order] 26 say Aye. If you are
against and would prefer to go into Committee, say
Nay.
DIVISION
[Suspension of Standing Order 26]
Ayes: 5 Nays: 5
Sen. L. Bell Sen. V. Cunningham
Sen. the Hon. C. Caesar Sen. M. Foley
Sen. M. Fubler Sen. M. Jones
Sen. L. Simmons Sen. T. Tannock
Sen. the Hon. K. Wilkerson Sen. the Hon. J. Dillas -Wright
Absent: 1
Sen. J. Wight
The Deputy Clerk: With a tie vote of 5– 5, the motion is
lost. So that means we will go into Committee.
[Motion to suspend Standing Order 26 lost (Standing
Order 15).]
The President: And I will call on Senator Tawana Tannock to chair the Committee.
Senate in Committee at 10:53 am
[Sen. Tawana Tannock, Chairman]
COMMITTEE ON BILL
CUSTOMS TARIFF AMENDMENT ACT 2025
The Chairman Chairman
Senators, we are now in Committee of the Whole [Senate] for further consideration of the Bill entitled the Customs Tariff Amendment Act 2025. I call on Minister Caesar in charge to proceed. Senator Caesar, you have the floor. Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Madam Chairman, I move that the Senate …
Senators, we are now in Committee of
the Whole [Senate] for further consideration of the Bill
entitled the Customs Tariff Amendment Act 2025. I call
on Minister Caesar in charge to proceed.
Senator Caesar, you have the floor.
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Madam Chairman, I
move that the Senate do now resolve itself into Committee of the Whole [Senate] for further consideration of the Customs Tariff Amendment Act 2025.
[Pause and crosstalk ]
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Madam Chairman, I
move that clauses 1 through 4 . . .
[Pause]
the Whole [Senate] for further consideration of the Bill
entitled the Customs Tariff Amendment Act 2025. I call
on Minister Caesar in charge to proceed.
Senator Caesar, you have the floor.
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Madam Chairman, I
move that the Senate do now resolve itself into Committee of the Whole [Senate] for further consideration of the Customs Tariff Amendment Act 2025.
[Pause and crosstalk ]
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Madam Chairman, I
move that clauses 1 through 4 . . .
[Pause]
The Chairman Chairman
Senators, it has been moved that clauses 1 through 4 be approved. Are there any objections to that motion? [Crosstalk] Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Madam Chairman, clause 1 provides the citation for the Bill. Clause 2 repeals and replaces the First Schedule to the Customs Tariff Act 1970 by …
Senators, it has been moved that
clauses 1 through 4 be approved.
Are there any objections to that motion?
[Crosstalk]
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Madam Chairman,
clause 1 provides the citation for the Bill.
Clause 2 repeals and replaces the First Schedule to the Customs Tariff Act 1970 by the contents of the Schedule to this Bill. The First Schedule is pub-lished on the Bermuda Government Portal at the following web address, www.gov.bm/schedules -customs -
tariff- act-1970.
Clause 3 amends the Fifth Schedule to the
Customs Tariff Act 1970 by repealing and replacing CPC 4240, (Hospital operating supplies) and by
amending CPC 4703 (Goods of tariff code 2710.192 (Diesel)) and CPC 4705, (Goods of tariff code
2710.194 (Fuel oil)) .
Clause 4 provides for commencement.
clauses 1 through 4 be approved.
Are there any objections to that motion?
[Crosstalk]
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Madam Chairman,
clause 1 provides the citation for the Bill.
Clause 2 repeals and replaces the First Schedule to the Customs Tariff Act 1970 by the contents of the Schedule to this Bill. The First Schedule is pub-lished on the Bermuda Government Portal at the following web address, www.gov.bm/schedules -customs -
tariff- act-1970.
Clause 3 amends the Fifth Schedule to the
Customs Tariff Act 1970 by repealing and replacing CPC 4240, (Hospital operating supplies) and by
amending CPC 4703 (Goods of tariff code 2710.192 (Diesel)) and CPC 4705, (Goods of tariff code
2710.194 (Fuel oil)) .
Clause 4 provides for commencement.
The Chairman Chairman
Senators, does anyone wish to speak on the clauses? Sen. Marcus Jones: Yes, I would. Thank you, Madam Chairman.
The Chairman Chairman
Senator Jones.
The Chairman Chairman
Madam Chairman, thank you again for allowing me this time to go into Committee to raise to the attention of the Minister . . . there are certain items, as mentioned earlier, that were not included in the tax relief that was from the First Schedule in regard to lighting …
Madam Chairman, thank you again for
allowing me this time to go into Committee to raise to
the attention of the Minister . . . there are certain items,
as mentioned earlier, that were not included in the tax
relief that was from the First Schedule in regard to lighting and material that we would like for the Government
to consider. Based on—
allowing me this time to go into Committee to raise to
the attention of the Minister . . . there are certain items,
as mentioned earlier, that were not included in the tax
relief that was from the First Schedule in regard to lighting and material that we would like for the Government
to consider. Based on—
The Chairman Chairman
Sorry, sorry. Senator Jones, I believe we are on the clauses 1 through 4. Sen. Marcus Jones: Okay. Right. So, repealing and replacing the First Schedule. I have mentioned an objection to passing those clauses because I would like to bring to the attention of this Chamber items within the …
Sorry, sorry. Senator Jones, I believe
we are on the clauses 1 through 4.
Sen. Marcus Jones: Okay. Right. So, repealing and
replacing the First Schedule.
I have mentioned an objection to passing those
clauses because I would like to bring to the attention of
this Chamber items within the Schedule that would . . .
I am requesting for a consideration of an amendment.
292 5 June 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda Senate POINT OF ORDER
Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: Good morning, Madam
Chairman. At this point, Madam Chairman, there is a point of order, the Opposition Leader should be clarify-ing what his proposed amendment is.
we are on the clauses 1 through 4.
Sen. Marcus Jones: Okay. Right. So, repealing and
replacing the First Schedule.
I have mentioned an objection to passing those
clauses because I would like to bring to the attention of
this Chamber items within the Schedule that would . . .
I am requesting for a consideration of an amendment.
292 5 June 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda Senate POINT OF ORDER
Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: Good morning, Madam
Chairman. At this point, Madam Chairman, there is a point of order, the Opposition Leader should be clarify-ing what his proposed amendment is.
The Chairman Chairman
Senator Jones. Sen. Marcus Jones: I would say if the Attorney General would give me a couple of minutes to do that, I am at the process of doing that. I wanted to point this Chamber to the actual pages of the Schedule that I am, in fact, questioning, and …
Senator Jones.
Sen. Marcus Jones: I would say if the Attorney General would give me a couple of minutes to do that, I am
at the process of doing that.
I wanted to point this Chamber to the actual
pages of the Schedule that I am, in fact, questioning, and now I have lost my page. Oh, dear.
Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: Madam Chairman, the
Opposition Senate Leader is not entitled to question in
Committee. He is required to give an amendment. So,
does he have a proposal that can be voted on?
Sen. Marcus Jones: I would say if the Attorney General would give me a couple of minutes to do that, I am
at the process of doing that.
I wanted to point this Chamber to the actual
pages of the Schedule that I am, in fact, questioning, and now I have lost my page. Oh, dear.
Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: Madam Chairman, the
Opposition Senate Leader is not entitled to question in
Committee. He is required to give an amendment. So,
does he have a proposal that can be voted on?
The Chairman Chairman
Thank you, Madam Attorney General. My understanding from Senator Jones was that he does have an amendment and was taking us to the appropriate part of the Schedule to refer to his amendment. Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: Thank you, Madam Chairman. His words were that he has queries . …
Thank you, Madam Attorney General.
My understanding from Senator Jones was
that he does have an amendment and was taking us to the appropriate part of the Schedule to refer to his amendment.
Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: Thank you, Madam
Chairman. His words were that he has queries .
Sen. Marcus Jones: That is true, Madam Chairman,
but I have queries that are leading to an amendment. I
would like some latitude to allow me to get there if the
Government Senate Leader would allow me.
My understanding from Senator Jones was
that he does have an amendment and was taking us to the appropriate part of the Schedule to refer to his amendment.
Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: Thank you, Madam
Chairman. His words were that he has queries .
Sen. Marcus Jones: That is true, Madam Chairman,
but I have queries that are leading to an amendment. I
would like some latitude to allow me to get there if the
Government Senate Leader would allow me.
The Chairman Chairman
So, Senator Jones, we have had the Honourable Minister Caesar move [clauses] 1 through 4. If you have questions specific to clauses 1 through 4, you can ask them. If you do have an amendment that you would like to propose, then that should be put forth and distributed in …
So, Senator Jones, we have had the
Honourable Minister Caesar move [clauses] 1 through 4. If you have questions specific to clauses 1 through
4, you can ask them. If you do have an amendment that
you would like to propose, then that should be put forth
and distributed in writing.
Sen. Marcus Jones: I submit to your guidance,
Madam Chairman. I would like the opportunity to ask
the question. Understanding at this point, without a written amendment, it cannot be submitted.
Am I allowed to at least ask the question?
Honourable Minister Caesar move [clauses] 1 through 4. If you have questions specific to clauses 1 through
4, you can ask them. If you do have an amendment that
you would like to propose, then that should be put forth
and distributed in writing.
Sen. Marcus Jones: I submit to your guidance,
Madam Chairman. I would like the opportunity to ask
the question. Understanding at this point, without a written amendment, it cannot be submitted.
Am I allowed to at least ask the question?
The Chairman Chairman
If it's pertaining to clauses 1 through 4 that are being moved. Sen. Marcus Jones: Absolutely, Madam Chairman. As stated earlier, there was a concern made in regard to tariff relief for electricals and plumbing. With that statement made earlier, my question would be, Has the Government considered a reduction …
If it's pertaining to clauses 1 through 4
that are being moved.
Sen. Marcus Jones: Absolutely, Madam Chairman.
As stated earlier, there was a concern made in
regard to tariff relief for electricals and plumbing. With that statement made earlier, my question would be,
Has the Government considered a reduction in the Schedule that allows further relief for lighting f ixtures
and plumbing fixtures, and specifically on the electrical
material subject — POINT OF ORDER
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Madam Chairman,
point of order. A question was asked and answered previously on this matter, and I've answered that.
that are being moved.
Sen. Marcus Jones: Absolutely, Madam Chairman.
As stated earlier, there was a concern made in
regard to tariff relief for electricals and plumbing. With that statement made earlier, my question would be,
Has the Government considered a reduction in the Schedule that allows further relief for lighting f ixtures
and plumbing fixtures, and specifically on the electrical
material subject — POINT OF ORDER
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Madam Chairman,
point of order. A question was asked and answered previously on this matter, and I've answered that.
The Chairman Chairman
Senator Jones. Sen. Marcus Jones: If my memory serves me correctly, the Minister had asked me if there were any spe-cific items within the Schedule that I would want to bring forward as for consideration. Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Point of order, Madam Chair. Sen. Marcus Jones: As an …
The Chairman Chairman
Minister Jones, thank you. POINT OF ORDER Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: I did not indicate that if there were specific items in the Schedule. I said if there were specific items that he had questions around where the reductions were. I basically have answered this question. I did not …
Minister Jones, thank you.
POINT OF ORDER
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: I did not indicate that if
there were specific items in the Schedule. I said if there
were specific items that he had questions around
where the reductions were. I basically have answered this question. I did not ask him to go into the specific
Schedule. I answered . . . it's an overall. As far as we
are concerned, this question has been answered.
POINT OF ORDER
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: I did not indicate that if
there were specific items in the Schedule. I said if there
were specific items that he had questions around
where the reductions were. I basically have answered this question. I did not ask him to go into the specific
Schedule. I answered . . . it's an overall. As far as we
are concerned, this question has been answered.
The Chairman Chairman
Senator Jones, do you have a further question? Sen. Marcus Jones: I do reject that premise, but I will yield to the Chair, having left the question to this Chamber that specifics of my question in regard to electrical parts and plumbing that I have offered in this Committee stage …
Senator Jones, do you have a further
question?
Sen. Marcus Jones: I do reject that premise, but I will
yield to the Chair, having left the question to this Chamber that specifics of my question in regard to electrical parts and plumbing that I have offered in this Committee stage were not tabled or considered. But I wil l yield
to you, Madam Chairman.
question?
Sen. Marcus Jones: I do reject that premise, but I will
yield to the Chair, having left the question to this Chamber that specifics of my question in regard to electrical parts and plumbing that I have offered in this Committee stage were not tabled or considered. But I wil l yield
to you, Madam Chairman.
The Chairman Chairman
Do you have any further questions, Senator Jones? Sen. Marcus Jones: No, I don't. Thank you.
The Chairman Chairman
Senator Caesar, can you move that the clauses be approved? Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Madam Chairman, I move that clauses 1 through 4 be approved.
The Chairman Chairman
It has been moved that clauses 1 through 4 be approved. Are there any objections to that motion? No objections. The movement of clauses 1 through 4 has been agreed to. [Motion carried: Clauses 1 through 4 passed.] Bermuda Senate The Chairman: Senator Caesar — [Crosstalk]
The Chairman Chairman
Senator Caesar, I invite you to move the Schedule. Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Apologies. Madam Chairman, [I am] asking for clarification. This is a “money bill,” and my understanding is that money bills should not be in Committee.
The Chairman Chairman
Thank you, Senator Caesar. One moment, please. [Pause]
The Chairman Chairman
Senator Caesar, if you can just bear with us . . . one moment. Thank you. [Pause]
The Chairman Chairman
Senator Caesar, having read section 39 of the Bermuda Constitution, I am in agreement that this is indeed a money bill, as it deals with the issue of duty. So, we do have restrictions on the powers of the Senate under money bills, which is it does not say that …
Senator Caesar, having read section
39 of the Bermuda Constitution, I am in agreement that
this is indeed a money bill, as it deals with the issue of duty. So, we do have restrictions on the powers of the
Senate under money bills, which is it does not say that
we cannot discuss them in Committee. However, we
are not allowed in the Senate to amend a money bill.
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Thank you, Madam
Chairman.
POINT OF CLARIFICATION
Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: Thank you, Madam
Chairman, and just as a point of clarification, you have said the rules do not prohibit the discussion in Committee. And my question would be, What would be the
point of any further discussion in Committee if there can
be no amendment? And further, the question period
was provided and ended.
39 of the Bermuda Constitution, I am in agreement that
this is indeed a money bill, as it deals with the issue of duty. So, we do have restrictions on the powers of the
Senate under money bills, which is it does not say that
we cannot discuss them in Committee. However, we
are not allowed in the Senate to amend a money bill.
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Thank you, Madam
Chairman.
POINT OF CLARIFICATION
Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: Thank you, Madam
Chairman, and just as a point of clarification, you have said the rules do not prohibit the discussion in Committee. And my question would be, What would be the
point of any further discussion in Committee if there can
be no amendment? And further, the question period
was provided and ended.
The Chairman Chairman
Your point is taken, Madam Attorney General. If this Bill . . . your point is taken. However, there is no restriction to go into Committee. What the relevance of that is can be debated, but there is no prohibition from going into Committee under the Const itution, section 38, …
Your point is taken, Madam Attorney
General. If this Bill . . . your point is taken. However,
there is no restriction to go into Committee. What the
relevance of that is can be debated, but there is no prohibition from going into Committee under the Const itution, section 38, restriction on powers of the Senate as to other public bills, and then following on from that, [section] 39.
So, there is no restriction to go into Committee.
Whether or not it will be a fruitful discussion is up for debate . . . but not debate.
[Laughter]
Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: Madam [Chairman],
that being the case, I move that we resolve ourselves out of Committee and return to the order of business. Thank you.
Sen. Marcus Jones: May I ask for a point of clarity?
General. If this Bill . . . your point is taken. However,
there is no restriction to go into Committee. What the
relevance of that is can be debated, but there is no prohibition from going into Committee under the Const itution, section 38, restriction on powers of the Senate as to other public bills, and then following on from that, [section] 39.
So, there is no restriction to go into Committee.
Whether or not it will be a fruitful discussion is up for debate . . . but not debate.
[Laughter]
Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: Madam [Chairman],
that being the case, I move that we resolve ourselves out of Committee and return to the order of business. Thank you.
Sen. Marcus Jones: May I ask for a point of clarity?
The Chairman Chairman
Yes, Senator Jones. POINT OF CLARIFICATION Sen. Marcus Jones: Madam Chairman, thank you for this ruling. I think that the whole Chamber is clarified on what can or cannot be done. I just want to raise the point that the purpose in bringing this to Committee was to raise those …
Yes, Senator Jones.
POINT OF CLARIFICATION
Sen. Marcus Jones: Madam Chairman, thank you for
this ruling. I think that the whole Chamber is clarified on
what can or cannot be done.
I just want to raise the point that the purpose in
bringing this to Committee was to raise those items that were not brought through and that we felt on this side
of the House that with a Government that wants to bring
relief to the construction industry, we found it a sort of
underperformance when basic items such as electrical
and plumbing materials were left off this list of relief.
POINT OF CLARIFICATION
Sen. Marcus Jones: Madam Chairman, thank you for
this ruling. I think that the whole Chamber is clarified on
what can or cannot be done.
I just want to raise the point that the purpose in
bringing this to Committee was to raise those items that were not brought through and that we felt on this side
of the House that with a Government that wants to bring
relief to the construction industry, we found it a sort of
underperformance when basic items such as electrical
and plumbing materials were left off this list of relief.
The Chairman Chairman
Thank you, Senator. POINT OF ORDER [Misleading] Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: Madam Chairman, point of order. It was answered very clearly that categories of electrical material were indeed included and specifically answered, flex pipe as an example. So, we believe that the [Senate] Leader of the Opposition right now …
The Chairman Chairman
It will seem that we have gone into a debate— Sen. Marcus Jones: —Point of order. Point of order. —
The Chairman Chairman
It will seem that we have gone into a debate, which at this point is fruitless on this point as we now know what we are confined with this Bill as a money bill and in Committee. So, I accept that you may have further points to make. However, the …
It will seem that we have gone into a
debate, which at this point is fruitless on this point as we now know what we are confined with this Bill as a
money bill and in Committee.
So, I accept that you may have further points
to make. However, the Government's position is that,
Senator Jones, your question was asked and answered. I understand that it was not answered to your satisfaction and that is where we remain.
As we can no longer have debate in Committee
on this particular Bill, I accept Madam Attorney Gen-eral's recommendation that we move out of Committee.
Sen. Marcus Jones: Madam Chairman, I do have a
point of order on the floor that I would like to be considered.
debate, which at this point is fruitless on this point as we now know what we are confined with this Bill as a
money bill and in Committee.
So, I accept that you may have further points
to make. However, the Government's position is that,
Senator Jones, your question was asked and answered. I understand that it was not answered to your satisfaction and that is where we remain.
As we can no longer have debate in Committee
on this particular Bill, I accept Madam Attorney Gen-eral's recommendation that we move out of Committee.
Sen. Marcus Jones: Madam Chairman, I do have a
point of order on the floor that I would like to be considered.
The Chairman Chairman
What is– POINT OF ORDER [Misleading] 294 5 June 2025 Official Hansard Report Bermuda Senate Sen. Marcus Jones: My point of order is that I believe the Leader of the Government on the Senate side is misleading the [Senate]. The only reason I raised and went into Committee was I …
What is–
POINT OF ORDER
[Misleading]
294 5 June 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda Senate Sen. Marcus Jones: My point of order is that I believe
the Leader of the Government on the Senate side is
misleading the [Senate].
The only reason I raised and went into Committee was I was asked by the Minister of Education, Spokesperson for Finance, if there were actual specific
items that I had in mind.
Now, she was able to say that, generally
speaking, there were electrical items that were actually
part of the tariff relief. But I thought I was invited to bring
some other additional electrical material that should have been included. That was my whole point, Madam
Chairman.
POINT OF ORDER
[Misleading]
294 5 June 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda Senate Sen. Marcus Jones: My point of order is that I believe
the Leader of the Government on the Senate side is
misleading the [Senate].
The only reason I raised and went into Committee was I was asked by the Minister of Education, Spokesperson for Finance, if there were actual specific
items that I had in mind.
Now, she was able to say that, generally
speaking, there were electrical items that were actually
part of the tariff relief. But I thought I was invited to bring
some other additional electrical material that should have been included. That was my whole point, Madam
Chairman.
The Chairman Chairman
Thank you, Senator Jones. Senator Caesar has said that you misunderstood her invitation. You were not invited to do that. You were invited to give clarity on specific items. Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: The clarity should be sought with the particular relevant agency, not in this particular body at …
The Chairman Chairman
Senators, we will now dissolve the Committee. Thank you. Madam President, I invite you—I wholeheartedly invite you— [Laughter]
The Chairman Chairman
—to come and resume your seat. Senators, thank you very much for bearing with me as we work through this process. I appreciate it. [Committee dissolved; No action taken on the Bill enti-tled Customs Tariff Amendment Act 2025.] Senate resumed at 11:17 am [Sen. the Hon. Joan E. Dillas -Wright, …
—to come and resume your seat.
Senators, thank you very much for bearing with
me as we work through this process. I appreciate it.
[Committee dissolved; No action taken on the Bill enti-tled Customs Tariff Amendment Act 2025.]
Senate resumed at 11:17 am
[Sen. the Hon. Joan E. Dillas -Wright, President]
PRESIDENT’S PROCEDURAL REVIEW
[Sections 37– 39 of the Bermuda Constitution Order
1968, “money Bill” ]
The President: Senators, for clarity, I take full responsibility for the issue that has arisen in that certainly . . .
the Constitution with respect to the Senate, we cannot change any money bill. I think that I ruled wrongly in
that respect because of the changing of a ny . . . or any
addition to the money bill should not have been allowed. I take full responsibility for that, and we will . . . I
thank you all for your indulgence, and I take full responsibility for the error that has occurred.
We will certainly make sure that we go over
that . . . because we do not often go into Committee for sure. The Senate does not often go into Committee, but
on money bills, we cannot change or alter them.
We will make sure that we review the guidance
on that in the future.
You can continue to pass your Bill.
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Thank you, Madam
President. And yes, we are all in this together, so we
appreciate your words. Thank you very much.
Madam President, I move that the Bill entitled
Customs Tariff Amendment Act 2025 be now read a third time.
The President: Is there any objection to the third reading?
No objection.
BILL
THIRD READING
CUSTOMS TARIFF AMENDMENT ACT 2025
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Madam President, I
move that the Bill do now pass.
The President: It has been moved that the Bill do now
pass.
Is there any objection to that motion?
No objection. The Bill is passed. Thank you,
Senators.
[Motion carried: The Customs Tariff Amendment Act 2025 was read a third time and passed.]
The President: And we will resume now with the Orders of the Day and get back to the resolution into Com-mittee for further consideration of the Appropriation Act
[2025] together with the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for the financial year 2025/26.
And I call on Senator . . . to move us into Committee.
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Thank you, Madam
President.
Madam President, I move that the Senate do
now resolve itself into a Committee of the whole [Sen-ate] for further consideration of the Appropriation Act
2025 together with the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for the year 2025/26.
The President: Thank you, Minister.
And I now call on Senator Tawana Tannock to
take the Chair of Committee.
Senate in Committee at 11:20 am
[Sen. Tawana Tannock , Chairman]
Bermuda Senate COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY
APPROPRIATION ACT 202 5
ESTIMATES OF REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE
FOR THE YEAR 202 5/26
Senators, thank you very much for bearing with
me as we work through this process. I appreciate it.
[Committee dissolved; No action taken on the Bill enti-tled Customs Tariff Amendment Act 2025.]
Senate resumed at 11:17 am
[Sen. the Hon. Joan E. Dillas -Wright, President]
PRESIDENT’S PROCEDURAL REVIEW
[Sections 37– 39 of the Bermuda Constitution Order
1968, “money Bill” ]
The President: Senators, for clarity, I take full responsibility for the issue that has arisen in that certainly . . .
the Constitution with respect to the Senate, we cannot change any money bill. I think that I ruled wrongly in
that respect because of the changing of a ny . . . or any
addition to the money bill should not have been allowed. I take full responsibility for that, and we will . . . I
thank you all for your indulgence, and I take full responsibility for the error that has occurred.
We will certainly make sure that we go over
that . . . because we do not often go into Committee for sure. The Senate does not often go into Committee, but
on money bills, we cannot change or alter them.
We will make sure that we review the guidance
on that in the future.
You can continue to pass your Bill.
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Thank you, Madam
President. And yes, we are all in this together, so we
appreciate your words. Thank you very much.
Madam President, I move that the Bill entitled
Customs Tariff Amendment Act 2025 be now read a third time.
The President: Is there any objection to the third reading?
No objection.
BILL
THIRD READING
CUSTOMS TARIFF AMENDMENT ACT 2025
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Madam President, I
move that the Bill do now pass.
The President: It has been moved that the Bill do now
pass.
Is there any objection to that motion?
No objection. The Bill is passed. Thank you,
Senators.
[Motion carried: The Customs Tariff Amendment Act 2025 was read a third time and passed.]
The President: And we will resume now with the Orders of the Day and get back to the resolution into Com-mittee for further consideration of the Appropriation Act
[2025] together with the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for the financial year 2025/26.
And I call on Senator . . . to move us into Committee.
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Thank you, Madam
President.
Madam President, I move that the Senate do
now resolve itself into a Committee of the whole [Sen-ate] for further consideration of the Appropriation Act
2025 together with the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for the year 2025/26.
The President: Thank you, Minister.
And I now call on Senator Tawana Tannock to
take the Chair of Committee.
Senate in Committee at 11:20 am
[Sen. Tawana Tannock , Chairman]
Bermuda Senate COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY
APPROPRIATION ACT 202 5
ESTIMATES OF REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE
FOR THE YEAR 202 5/26
The Chairman Chairman
Senators, we are now in Committee of the Whole [Senate] for further consideration of the Es-timates of Revenue and Expenditure for the year 2025/26. Head 83, [Ministry of] National Security [Headquarters]; [Bermuda Police Service], Head 7; National [Drug C ontrol] Head 88; Youth and Social Development —I'm sorry. So that …
Senators, we are now in Committee of
the Whole [Senate] for further consideration of the Es-timates of Revenue and Expenditure for the year 2025/26. Head 83, [Ministry of] National Security
[Headquarters]; [Bermuda Police Service], Head 7; National [Drug C ontrol] Head 88; Youth and Social Development —I'm sorry.
So that would just be [Heads] 83, 7, and 88.
National Security [Headquarters, Head] 83 can be
found on page B -264. [Bermuda Police Service], Head
7 can be found on page B -274; National [Drug Control]
Head 88 can be found on page B -285. They are now to
be debated.
I call on Junior Minister Lindsay Simmons.
Senator Simmons, you have the floor.
MINISTRY OF NATIONAL SECURITY
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Thank you, Madam Chairman.
Madam Chairman, I move that the Committee
do now take under consideration Head 83, Ministry of National Security Headquarters; Head 7, [Bermuda]
Police [Service]; Head 88, National Drug Control.
[Can] we have a time check?
the Whole [Senate] for further consideration of the Es-timates of Revenue and Expenditure for the year 2025/26. Head 83, [Ministry of] National Security
[Headquarters]; [Bermuda Police Service], Head 7; National [Drug C ontrol] Head 88; Youth and Social Development —I'm sorry.
So that would just be [Heads] 83, 7, and 88.
National Security [Headquarters, Head] 83 can be
found on page B -264. [Bermuda Police Service], Head
7 can be found on page B -274; National [Drug Control]
Head 88 can be found on page B -285. They are now to
be debated.
I call on Junior Minister Lindsay Simmons.
Senator Simmons, you have the floor.
MINISTRY OF NATIONAL SECURITY
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Thank you, Madam Chairman.
Madam Chairman, I move that the Committee
do now take under consideration Head 83, Ministry of National Security Headquarters; Head 7, [Bermuda]
Police [Service]; Head 88, National Drug Control.
[Can] we have a time check?
The Chairman Chairman
Junior Minister Senator Simmons, the time is now 11:22 am. We have two hours to debate your heads. Which means that we will finish . . . we will adjourn for lunch and continue. So, we have two hours. It is 11:22 am. We will adjourn for lunch. Perhaps I …
Junior Minister Senator Simmons, the
time is now 11:22 am. We have two hours to debate
your heads. Which means that we will finish . . . we will
adjourn for lunch and continue.
So, we have two hours. It is 11:22 am. We will
adjourn for lunch. Perhaps I can give a time check at
[noon] or 12:15 pm so that we can determine whether
or not we would like to adjourn at 12:15 pm or
12:30 pm.
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Thank you.
time is now 11:22 am. We have two hours to debate
your heads. Which means that we will finish . . . we will
adjourn for lunch and continue.
So, we have two hours. It is 11:22 am. We will
adjourn for lunch. Perhaps I can give a time check at
[noon] or 12:15 pm so that we can determine whether
or not we would like to adjourn at 12:15 pm or
12:30 pm.
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Thank you.
The Chairman Chairman
Thank you. HEAD 83 —MINISTRY OF NATIONAL SECURITY HEADQUARTERS Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, it gives me great pleasure to present the budget for Head 83, the Ministry of National Security [Headquarters ] found on pages B -264 through B -267 of the Budget Book. Mandate or Mission Sen. Lindsay …
Thank you.
HEAD 83 —MINISTRY OF NATIONAL SECURITY
HEADQUARTERS
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, it gives
me great pleasure to present the budget for Head 83, the Ministry of National Security [Headquarters ] found
on pages B -264 through B -267 of the Budget Book.
Mandate or Mission
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the mandate of the Ministry of National Security is Working together to keep you safe.
Expenditure Overview
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, a total of
$4,966,000 has been allocated for this Head, which
represents an increase of $1,796,000 from the previous
year and constitutes 4 per cent of the budget allocated
for the Ministry as a whole.
The increase reflects the funding required for
various projects and initiatives the department will be implementing, such as the Uniformed Services Training
Programme, grants and the educational support pro-grammes. The department will also be filling six posts
to provide critical resources in Administration, Cyberse-curity and Disaster Risk Reduction and Management.
Further details are provided in the business unit cost
analysis.
Madam Chairman, on page B -265 of the general summary you will note that there are four business units within the Ministry Headquarters. The estimate for
business unit 93000 for Administration is $2,797,000,
an increase of $795,000 or 40 per cent. This comprises
of $80,037 towards the salary uplift; $319,931 to cover one Security Manager, and one Information Security Systems Officer and one Cybersecurity Analyst for the
Cybersecurity Team; and one secretary for $61,929;
one political aide for $87,148; and o ne relief administrative assistant for $66,059. The remaining amount will
form part of the budget towards a stipend for 10 trainees for the Uniformed Services Training Programme of
$92,836. Additionally, $14,650 for staff and head of department trainings , $33,000 for overseas conferences
and training, $15,000 for advertising and marketing,
and $24,410 for an increase in Public Radio Safety
maintenance fees.
Madam Chairman , business unit 93002 for the
Parole Board and 93003 for the Treatment of Offenders
Board are no longer being used as both boards have
been transferred to the Ministry of Justice.
Madam Chairman, the estimate for business
unit 93004 for the Police Complaints Authority is
$31,000 and has no change from the 2024/25 budget.
Madam Chairman, the estimate for business
unit 93007 for Disaster Risk Reduction and Mitigation Team is $422,000, a $232,000, or 122 per cent increase over the 2024/25 financial year. The increase is to fund one National Events Coordinator post for $86,345, one consultant for $108,000 to oversee supply chain disaster management and $37,655 for conferences and tabletop exercises.
Madam Chairman, business unit 93008 relates
to the Gang Violence Reduction Programme with an
estimate for the financial year 2025/26 of $1,716,000. This represents $924,000, or 117 per cent increase
over the financial year 2024/25. The increase will fund
educational programmes for individuals, counselling for
296 5 June 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda Senate victims of violence, work placement programmes to
provide an alternative to gang activity and grants to
fund community programmes in sporting clubs and
community -based entities.
Revenue Overview
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the Liquor
Licence Authority was transferred to the Ministry of Jus-tice in September 2024; however, the payment of fees
and collection of revenue continued with the Ministry of National Security until 31 March 2025. As shown on
page B -266, the adjusted r evenue projection for
2024/25 was $1,012,000, a $99,000, or 11 per cent increase over the projected revenue collection of
$913,000. As of 31 March 2025, $997,667 was collected, a $14,333 decrease over the adjusted revenue projection.
Subjective Analysis
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the Subjective Analysis of Current Account Estimates of the
Ministry of National Security is found on page B -266. I
will highlight the material object code descriptions increases and decreases.
Salaries increased by $705,000. This is attributable to the three posts to be filled to provide ad-ministrative services to the Minister and Permanent
Secretary, the Cybersecurity Board and the Police
Complaints Authority. The Cybersecurity Team will have t hree more funded team members to bolster the
cybersecurity efforts, and the Disaster Risk Reduction and Mitigation Team will be fully funded for the National Disaster Coordinator and the National Events Coordinator.
The decrease in wages of [ $279,000 ] is attributed to the Ministry not having the Uniform ed Services Training Programme in progress. The planning and design for this programme are well advanced and
we are hoping to launch it during this fiscal year. The
funding in the amount of $371,344 for the cohort for the
fiscal year 2025/26 will be allocated to Professional
Services.
Professional Services saw an increase of
$1,098,000. Madam Chairman, $687,664 will be used
towards marketing of anti -violence messaging, educational bursaries and counselling services and $371,344 will be used towards a stipend for two cohorts of 10
people for the Uniform Services Recruitment Pro-gramme and $38,992 for the part-time teachers of the
programme.
The increase of $171,000 for other expenses
will be allocated as follows: $30,000 will be allocated
towards the [ Mothers on a Mission ] MOM Group to provide resources for support services to mothers of victims of gang violence and $26,590 for safe house, airfare and emergency passports for individuals in [ imminent] danger of gang violence. Cybersecurity costs include $2,000 for subscriptions, $8,000 for penetration testing and $80,000 for centralised logging and monitoring system and $24,410 towards an increase in public safety radio network fees.
Capital Expenditure
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, as shown
on page C -14, the Ministry received $1,140,000 for
capital acquisitions. Madam Chairman, $177,782 will
be used towards the upgrades of the Island- wide public
safety radio network and $962,218 will be geared towards the completion of the C CTV network and the
start of the Speed Camera system. As I have previously
reported to this Honourable [Senate] , the installation of
the Speed Camera system is contingent upon the com-plete installation of the CCTV [ network ].
Manpower
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: The department’s increase of
six full -time equivalents reflects the increase in funding
of three posts for administrative support, and three
posts for the Cybersecurity Unit.
Performance Measures by Business Unit
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, I am
pleased to report the outcomes of the department’s
forecasted performance measures for fiscal year
2024/25 that were largely achieved. These are found
on page B -267.
Business Unit 93000, Title Administration
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: This business unit is responsible for providing support to the departments in the
form of policy development, project management, financial oversight and cybersecurity governance. One
of the key functions of the Cybersecurity Team is to development and implement policies. During the 2024/25
fiscal period, the team achieved 80 per cent of approving Information Systems Risk Management Pro-gramme Policies and are as follows
• Policies for the updated Cybersecurity Act, Cybersecurity Regulations, and Computer Misuse
Act were finalised and approved by Cabinet.
• The Cybersecurity Act and Computer Misuse Act based on approved policies were drafted
and approved by Parliament.
• The updated Information Systems Risk Management Programme Policy has been developed and is awaiting review by the Cybersecurity Advisory Board and Cabinet Cybersecurity Committee.
The Ministry conducted monthly meetings both
in a formal and informal setting with its Heads of Departments (HODs) and DEOD Manager. The formal
Bermuda Senate meetings were held to provide Heads of Departments
with pertinent information that included:
• updates from the Public Service Executive;
• updates on the status of Cabinet Memorandum;
• update DEOD primarily around recruitment
and the status of the exercises; and
• financial updates relating to budget, year -end
and procurement.
In addition, the department heads provided updates on the major activities taking place in their respective departments. The informal meetings were designed to encourage an exchange of ideas and brainstorming in a relaxed setting on any topic.
Business Unit 93007, Disaster Risk Reduction
and Mitigation
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, this business unit is responsible for the oversight of stakeholders’ completion of disaster recovery plans. The team is
also integral in staging disaster exercises and the coor-dination of entities during times of disaster such as before, during and after hurri canes.
Between April and September 2024, the Disaster Risk Reduction and Mitigation Team (DRRMT) advanced Bermuda’s national disaster preparedness and
operational resilience through a range of strategic initi-atives, legislative support efforts, stakeholder engagements, and critical operational developments.
A substantial focus was placed on strengthening disaster readiness and emergency management
operations. Key activities included the planning, coordination, and execution of the Port Security Tabletop Exercise [TTX] as well as participation in the Government House- hosted Sanctions [TTX]. These exercises
were designed to enhance inter -agency coordination,
develop operational readiness, and refine information extraction processes through structured scenario debriefs. Preparations and assessments of the Emergency Measures Organisation (EMO) room at the Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service (BFRS) remained ongoing to ensure that technical systems, infrastructure,
and operational capabilities remained mission- ready.
Madam Chairman, in addition to the exercise
and operational readiness work, the DRRMT contributed to the advancement of Bermuda’s legislative
framework by assisting in the further development of
Disaster Management and Emergency Measures Legislation. This supported efforts to modernise Bermuda’s
legal basis for national disaster response, ensuring that
contemporary principles and operational best practices are reflected in statutory frameworks.
The DRRMT also developed a comprehensive
business case for the establishment of an all -encompassing Emergency Measures Operations Centre
(EMOC). In support of this initiative, the team drafted
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to guide the management, f unctionality, and activation of an operations centre. Further, SOPs for the oversight and
operation of the Public Safety Radio Network were prepared, ensuring that communications resilience remains a priority across Bermuda’s emergency response infrastruct ure.
Madam Chairman, to strengthen operational
readiness across government and community partners,
the DRRMT conducted extensive hurricane season
preparedness activities. This included engagement
with government agencies to verify hurricane response
inventories, inspections of hardware store supply chains to confirm capacity under disaster scenarios,
and consultations with telecommunications infrastructure managers to identify vulnerabilities and strengthen
response plans. The team also worked directly with
stakeholders responsible for road clearing and tree cutting operations, ensuring these critical recovery resources were coordinated and prepared.
Weather monitoring activities continued
throughout the Atlantic hurricane season, with the team maintaining active situational awareness and providing
timely updates to leadership. The team also contributed
to the updating and development of key operational
documents, including the EMO procedural guides.
Shelter readiness assessments were completed in collaboration with key agencies, further reinforcing Bermuda’s emergency posture.
Madam Chairman, strategic research initiatives advanced significantly during the reporting period.
Notably, the team pursued evaluation of national emergency alerting systems, explored enhancements to
Bermuda’s public emergency messaging capabilities,
and initiated prel iminary planning for Bermuda’s National Risk Register (NRR). Work focused on disaster
preparedness for vulnerable populations, aligning national planning efforts with a commitment to inclusive
and equitable disaster risk reduction.
Stakeholder engagement remained a cornerstone of DRRMT operations. The team participated actively in numerous forums, including Port Security
Meetings focused on maritime and infrastructure vulnerabilities, Supply Chain Meetings to ensure critical
goods continuity during disasters, and Public Health
preparedness meetings aimed at strengthening the
health sector's resilience to emergencies.
Madam Chairman, furthermore, the DRRMT
took responsibility for maintaining Bermuda’s Emergency Broadcast [Studio ], ensuring that public communication systems were operational and reliable. The
team chaired the Public Safety Radio Users Group,
providing leadership in coordinating multiple agencies’
use of the radio network and addressing critical issues
promptly. International engagement continued through
FCDO Disaster Manager briefings and UK Met Office
hurricane updates, ensuring Bermuda remained
closely connected with global resilience efforts.
The DRRMT supported critical incident [response] during the period, particularly following the impacts of Hurricane Ernesto. The team coordinated
298 5 June 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda Senate stakeholders in the rapid repair and [ restoration ] of the
Public Safety Radio Network, ensuring critical communications infrastructure was brought back online efficiently. Additionally, the team conducted high- level
meetings to plan for the potential impacts of a strike by
the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA), focusing on continuity of operations and mitigating potential disruptions to Bermuda’s import -dependent supply
chain.
Madam Chairman, in summary, the Disaster
Risk Reduction and Mitigation Team’s demonstrated a
commitment to national resilience, operational excellence, legislative modernisation, stakeholder collaboration, and international best practice alignment. Through
disaster prep aredness activities, legislative support,
stakeholder engagement, operational support, infra-structure maintenance, and strategic research, the team significantly advanced Bermuda’s disaster risk reduction objectives and strengthened its natio nal emergency management framework.
Policy Development and Strategic Planning
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: [We] drafted and submitted
the National Risk Register (NRR) with Phase 1 training
completed in February 2025. A PowerPoint presentation was shared with stakeholders, and the second
phase is currently being scheduled. We worked with Policy Analysts to address le gislative concerns regarding the authority to declare a disaster, ensuring align-ment with the Governor’s existing powers.
Operational Frameworks and SOPs
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: We developed and submitted
EMO Operations Centre Standard Operating Proce-dures, drafted the Public Safety Radio Standard Oper-ating Procedures in collaboration with BPS and Corrections. We initiated a comprehensive Event Safety
Framework and event checklis ts, including oversight of
major national events such as the PGA Golf Tour, Chubb Race Weekend, Cup Match, and Bermuda Day
preparations.
Community Preparedness and Exercises
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: We coordinated participation
in CARIBE WAVE (March 2025) exercise, with a debrief scheduled for April 10. We engaged in planning
and evaluating cruise ship tabletop exercises and mass
rescue operations in partnership with Marine Operations and UK/US Coast Guard support (though TTX
postponed) .
We hosted Hurricane Preparedness Planning
sessions to address vegetation management, worksite
safety, and post -strike coordination across utilities and
public works and continued evacuation planning for
Ferry Reach, incorporating emergency plans from
stake holders like RUBiS and SOL. Business Unit 93000, Title Administration
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, this business unit is responsible for Gang Violence Reduction Team 2025 Update.
Madam Chairman, in 2025, the Gang Violence
Reduction Team (GVRT) continues to stand as a beacon of resilience and transformation, leading Bermuda’s fight against gang violence and youth disenfranchisement. In a time where communities face deeprooted social inequalities , fractured family systems, and
barriers to opportunity, the G ang Violence Reduction
Team, under the leadership of Bishop Leroy Bean has
remained unwavering in its mission , to intervene, uplift,
and empower.
The G ang Violence Reduction Team is not
simply a response mechanism—it is a force of [intentional ] change, working to dismantle cycles of violence
and rebuild pathways toward hope and healing.
Through tailored interventions and robust outreach efforts, the G ang Violence Reduction Team has [embedded] itself in schools, communities, workplaces, and
homes, meeting individuals where they are and walking
with them toward better futures.
Madam Chairman , the core mission of the
Gang Violence Reduction T eam remains focused on:
• Guiding individuals away from delinquent peer groups and toxic environments.
• Transforming behaviour patterns of those involved in gang activity and fostering reintegration into society.
• Preventing youth gang involvement by restoring social and familial bonds.
• Opening employment pathways for marginalised youth.
• Connecting individuals with mental and social health resources.
• Strengthening interpersonal relationships and
community accountability.
School Outreach
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Acknowledging that schools
often serve as recruitment grounds for gang activity,
the G ang Violence Reduction Team has amplified its
school presence across the I sland. This year, our outreach included
• Daily High School Lunch Engagements: Regu-lar presence at school lunch hours, offering
mentorship and [informal ] check -ins.
• Restorative Mediation Sessions: De- escalating
tensions and promoting peaceful resolution
among students.
• Incident Response and Crisis Management:
Post-incident school support, planning, and security assessments.
• Case Management and Tailored Youth Sessions: Individualised support plans and interventions for vulnerable students.
Bermuda Senate • Small Group Programming: Targeted skill -
building and emotional resilience workshops.
Early Intervention: “I AM” & G.R.E.A.T. Programmes
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Early engagement has
proven pivotal in changing life trajectories.
The “I Am” Programme highlights:
• Launched in 10 schools, with a new curriculum
piloted at Dellwood Middle School.
• Over 116 structured sessions held from Sep-tember 2023 to June 2024. Eighty -eight sessions were delivered between September 2024
and April 2025.
• One hundred and sixty -two boys across nine
primary schools and one middle school partici-pated.
• Thirty -five crisis supports, 36 mediation sessions, and 140 individualised supports delivered.
G.R.E.A.T. Programme
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: G.R.E.A.T. stands for,
Madam Chairman, Gang Resistance Education and
Training.
• Continues to engage primary school boys with
structured, values -based education aimed at
fostering resilience and resistance to gang influence.
Work Placement and Mentoring Programme (WPMP)
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Bridging school to work -
force:
• Fifteen youth participants, with 14 completing the eight -week placement.
• One hundred and thirty job coaching sessions
provided personalised support.
• 85 [per cent ] business partner satisfaction and
interest in future participation.
• Eight youth received extended paid work; four
secured jobs post -programme.
• There was no involvement in antisocial or criminal activity throughout the programme.
• 100 per cent of parents observed positive
growth in their children.
Redemption Programme: A Path to
Personal Reinvention
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: In 2024/25, the Redemption
Programme continued as a transformative space for young men:
• Eighteen trainees completed the 25- week programme. • One hundred and thirty -seven one- on-one
case management and job coaching sessions were conducted.
• Seventy -six sessions on career, personal development, and job readiness.
• Six secured employment; one enrolled at Bermuda College; one entered university.
• Ten crisis interventions managed with ongoing
support for four active participants.
Street -Level Outreach and Case Management
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Serving 78 young adults
(ages 18 to 35):
• Tailored, client -centred case management addressing housing, employment, legal, and
mental health needs.
• Safe housing, relocation support, prison visits,
and court advocacy have been offered.
• Quarterly community mediations and inter -
agency collaborations facilitated [systemic]
wraparound care.
Madam Chairman, in the aftermath of violence,
when fear grips families and uncertainty ripples through
neighbourhoods, it is the Coordinated Crisis Response
Team (CCRT) that steps forward to restore peace, stabilise emotions, and help communities begin the process of healing.
Functioning as a rapid- response arm of the
Gang Violence Reduction Team, the CCRT is mobi-lised immediately following serious violent incidents —
whether a shooting, stabbing, or other traumatic event.
The team is composed of experienced professionals and trusted community figures who work together to
deliver compassionate, coordinated support in real -
time.
In the past year, the CCRT was [ activated] following 28 violent incidents requiring hospital -based intervention, and an additional one community activation in response to heightened tensions on the ground. In
total, the team delivered 104 targeted post -incident
support sessions to survivors, close friends, and immediate family members impacted by violence.
Gang [Violence] Reduction Team: Leading the National Violence Reduction Strategy
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, today, I
am pleased to provide an update on the significant progress made since the launch of Bermuda’s National Violence Reduction Strategy (NVRS) —a strategic framework that marks a bold step forward in addressing violence in our community through prevention, intervention, and rehabilitation.
It is important to note that the Gang [ Violence ]
Reduction Team (GVRT), under the Ministry of National Security, was not only instrumental in developing
this strategy but also led its drafting and presentation to
Cabinet and the House of Assembly. The NVRS was
300 5 June 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda Senate officially tabled in the House on 15 November [ 2024]
and passed with full support following a debate on 6
December [2024] .
Strategic Leadership and Governance Framework
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: To ensure effective implementation, the NVRS is structured across three operational tiers:
1. National Violence Reduction Steering Committee (NVRSC). Chaired by the Min-ister of National Security and composed of
Permanent Secretaries from the Ministries
of National Security, Health, Education,
Legal Affairs, and Youth, Social Development and Seniors . This committee meets
regularly and ensures high- level alignment
and resource coordination across ministries.
2. Inter-Agency Gang Enforcement Team
(IGET). Focused on intelligence- led enforcement and coordinated interventions,
IGET works closely with law enforcement,
the courts, and other agencies to mitigate
gang activity in real time.
3. Inter-Agency Community Response
(IGCR). This prevention- focused tier
drives education, youth engagement, and
community partnerships to disrupt the root
causes of violence.
Major Programme Highlights Under the NVRS
Educational and Vocational Pathways
(Empowering Futures)
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Addressing root causes such
as economic disenfranchisement, the NVRS has prioritised access to education and job training:
• GED Programme: In partnership with C.A.R.E.,
grants are being issued to youth pursuing their
GEDs. Discussions with the Adult Education
School are underway to further expand access.
• Workforce Development: In collaboration with
the Ministry of Economy and Labour, apprenticeships and industry certifications are being
provided in high- demand sectors.
• Bermuda College Sponsorships: A new initiative is underway to sponsor associate degrees or certifications for youth from underserved
backgrounds.
New GVRT Staff and Sports -Based
Violence Prevention
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: A new GVRT team member
has been hired to implement violence reduction strate-gies within local sports clubs, leveraging [athletics ] as
a vehicle for positive engagement and gang prevention.
Public Messaging and Youth Engagement
Stop the Violence Campaign—March 2025
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: In collaboration with 7 South
Productions, a multimedia campaign will launch across
Bermuda featuring:
• video reels and podcasts;
• student -led campaigns on social media;
• mental health and anti -violence messaging by
youth for youth.
We have a plan to recognise that safe spaces
are essential for prevention. To that end, the NVRS is
also:
• Funding youth- centred organisations such as
Transitional Community Services, Future
Leaders, The Family Centre, Women’s Re-source Centre, and Money Muse to scale their outreach and impact for groups working di-rectly with youth .
HEAD 83 —MINISTRY OF NATIONAL SECURITY
HEADQUARTERS
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, it gives
me great pleasure to present the budget for Head 83, the Ministry of National Security [Headquarters ] found
on pages B -264 through B -267 of the Budget Book.
Mandate or Mission
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the mandate of the Ministry of National Security is Working together to keep you safe.
Expenditure Overview
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, a total of
$4,966,000 has been allocated for this Head, which
represents an increase of $1,796,000 from the previous
year and constitutes 4 per cent of the budget allocated
for the Ministry as a whole.
The increase reflects the funding required for
various projects and initiatives the department will be implementing, such as the Uniformed Services Training
Programme, grants and the educational support pro-grammes. The department will also be filling six posts
to provide critical resources in Administration, Cyberse-curity and Disaster Risk Reduction and Management.
Further details are provided in the business unit cost
analysis.
Madam Chairman, on page B -265 of the general summary you will note that there are four business units within the Ministry Headquarters. The estimate for
business unit 93000 for Administration is $2,797,000,
an increase of $795,000 or 40 per cent. This comprises
of $80,037 towards the salary uplift; $319,931 to cover one Security Manager, and one Information Security Systems Officer and one Cybersecurity Analyst for the
Cybersecurity Team; and one secretary for $61,929;
one political aide for $87,148; and o ne relief administrative assistant for $66,059. The remaining amount will
form part of the budget towards a stipend for 10 trainees for the Uniformed Services Training Programme of
$92,836. Additionally, $14,650 for staff and head of department trainings , $33,000 for overseas conferences
and training, $15,000 for advertising and marketing,
and $24,410 for an increase in Public Radio Safety
maintenance fees.
Madam Chairman , business unit 93002 for the
Parole Board and 93003 for the Treatment of Offenders
Board are no longer being used as both boards have
been transferred to the Ministry of Justice.
Madam Chairman, the estimate for business
unit 93004 for the Police Complaints Authority is
$31,000 and has no change from the 2024/25 budget.
Madam Chairman, the estimate for business
unit 93007 for Disaster Risk Reduction and Mitigation Team is $422,000, a $232,000, or 122 per cent increase over the 2024/25 financial year. The increase is to fund one National Events Coordinator post for $86,345, one consultant for $108,000 to oversee supply chain disaster management and $37,655 for conferences and tabletop exercises.
Madam Chairman, business unit 93008 relates
to the Gang Violence Reduction Programme with an
estimate for the financial year 2025/26 of $1,716,000. This represents $924,000, or 117 per cent increase
over the financial year 2024/25. The increase will fund
educational programmes for individuals, counselling for
296 5 June 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda Senate victims of violence, work placement programmes to
provide an alternative to gang activity and grants to
fund community programmes in sporting clubs and
community -based entities.
Revenue Overview
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the Liquor
Licence Authority was transferred to the Ministry of Jus-tice in September 2024; however, the payment of fees
and collection of revenue continued with the Ministry of National Security until 31 March 2025. As shown on
page B -266, the adjusted r evenue projection for
2024/25 was $1,012,000, a $99,000, or 11 per cent increase over the projected revenue collection of
$913,000. As of 31 March 2025, $997,667 was collected, a $14,333 decrease over the adjusted revenue projection.
Subjective Analysis
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the Subjective Analysis of Current Account Estimates of the
Ministry of National Security is found on page B -266. I
will highlight the material object code descriptions increases and decreases.
Salaries increased by $705,000. This is attributable to the three posts to be filled to provide ad-ministrative services to the Minister and Permanent
Secretary, the Cybersecurity Board and the Police
Complaints Authority. The Cybersecurity Team will have t hree more funded team members to bolster the
cybersecurity efforts, and the Disaster Risk Reduction and Mitigation Team will be fully funded for the National Disaster Coordinator and the National Events Coordinator.
The decrease in wages of [ $279,000 ] is attributed to the Ministry not having the Uniform ed Services Training Programme in progress. The planning and design for this programme are well advanced and
we are hoping to launch it during this fiscal year. The
funding in the amount of $371,344 for the cohort for the
fiscal year 2025/26 will be allocated to Professional
Services.
Professional Services saw an increase of
$1,098,000. Madam Chairman, $687,664 will be used
towards marketing of anti -violence messaging, educational bursaries and counselling services and $371,344 will be used towards a stipend for two cohorts of 10
people for the Uniform Services Recruitment Pro-gramme and $38,992 for the part-time teachers of the
programme.
The increase of $171,000 for other expenses
will be allocated as follows: $30,000 will be allocated
towards the [ Mothers on a Mission ] MOM Group to provide resources for support services to mothers of victims of gang violence and $26,590 for safe house, airfare and emergency passports for individuals in [ imminent] danger of gang violence. Cybersecurity costs include $2,000 for subscriptions, $8,000 for penetration testing and $80,000 for centralised logging and monitoring system and $24,410 towards an increase in public safety radio network fees.
Capital Expenditure
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, as shown
on page C -14, the Ministry received $1,140,000 for
capital acquisitions. Madam Chairman, $177,782 will
be used towards the upgrades of the Island- wide public
safety radio network and $962,218 will be geared towards the completion of the C CTV network and the
start of the Speed Camera system. As I have previously
reported to this Honourable [Senate] , the installation of
the Speed Camera system is contingent upon the com-plete installation of the CCTV [ network ].
Manpower
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: The department’s increase of
six full -time equivalents reflects the increase in funding
of three posts for administrative support, and three
posts for the Cybersecurity Unit.
Performance Measures by Business Unit
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, I am
pleased to report the outcomes of the department’s
forecasted performance measures for fiscal year
2024/25 that were largely achieved. These are found
on page B -267.
Business Unit 93000, Title Administration
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: This business unit is responsible for providing support to the departments in the
form of policy development, project management, financial oversight and cybersecurity governance. One
of the key functions of the Cybersecurity Team is to development and implement policies. During the 2024/25
fiscal period, the team achieved 80 per cent of approving Information Systems Risk Management Pro-gramme Policies and are as follows
• Policies for the updated Cybersecurity Act, Cybersecurity Regulations, and Computer Misuse
Act were finalised and approved by Cabinet.
• The Cybersecurity Act and Computer Misuse Act based on approved policies were drafted
and approved by Parliament.
• The updated Information Systems Risk Management Programme Policy has been developed and is awaiting review by the Cybersecurity Advisory Board and Cabinet Cybersecurity Committee.
The Ministry conducted monthly meetings both
in a formal and informal setting with its Heads of Departments (HODs) and DEOD Manager. The formal
Bermuda Senate meetings were held to provide Heads of Departments
with pertinent information that included:
• updates from the Public Service Executive;
• updates on the status of Cabinet Memorandum;
• update DEOD primarily around recruitment
and the status of the exercises; and
• financial updates relating to budget, year -end
and procurement.
In addition, the department heads provided updates on the major activities taking place in their respective departments. The informal meetings were designed to encourage an exchange of ideas and brainstorming in a relaxed setting on any topic.
Business Unit 93007, Disaster Risk Reduction
and Mitigation
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, this business unit is responsible for the oversight of stakeholders’ completion of disaster recovery plans. The team is
also integral in staging disaster exercises and the coor-dination of entities during times of disaster such as before, during and after hurri canes.
Between April and September 2024, the Disaster Risk Reduction and Mitigation Team (DRRMT) advanced Bermuda’s national disaster preparedness and
operational resilience through a range of strategic initi-atives, legislative support efforts, stakeholder engagements, and critical operational developments.
A substantial focus was placed on strengthening disaster readiness and emergency management
operations. Key activities included the planning, coordination, and execution of the Port Security Tabletop Exercise [TTX] as well as participation in the Government House- hosted Sanctions [TTX]. These exercises
were designed to enhance inter -agency coordination,
develop operational readiness, and refine information extraction processes through structured scenario debriefs. Preparations and assessments of the Emergency Measures Organisation (EMO) room at the Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service (BFRS) remained ongoing to ensure that technical systems, infrastructure,
and operational capabilities remained mission- ready.
Madam Chairman, in addition to the exercise
and operational readiness work, the DRRMT contributed to the advancement of Bermuda’s legislative
framework by assisting in the further development of
Disaster Management and Emergency Measures Legislation. This supported efforts to modernise Bermuda’s
legal basis for national disaster response, ensuring that
contemporary principles and operational best practices are reflected in statutory frameworks.
The DRRMT also developed a comprehensive
business case for the establishment of an all -encompassing Emergency Measures Operations Centre
(EMOC). In support of this initiative, the team drafted
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to guide the management, f unctionality, and activation of an operations centre. Further, SOPs for the oversight and
operation of the Public Safety Radio Network were prepared, ensuring that communications resilience remains a priority across Bermuda’s emergency response infrastruct ure.
Madam Chairman, to strengthen operational
readiness across government and community partners,
the DRRMT conducted extensive hurricane season
preparedness activities. This included engagement
with government agencies to verify hurricane response
inventories, inspections of hardware store supply chains to confirm capacity under disaster scenarios,
and consultations with telecommunications infrastructure managers to identify vulnerabilities and strengthen
response plans. The team also worked directly with
stakeholders responsible for road clearing and tree cutting operations, ensuring these critical recovery resources were coordinated and prepared.
Weather monitoring activities continued
throughout the Atlantic hurricane season, with the team maintaining active situational awareness and providing
timely updates to leadership. The team also contributed
to the updating and development of key operational
documents, including the EMO procedural guides.
Shelter readiness assessments were completed in collaboration with key agencies, further reinforcing Bermuda’s emergency posture.
Madam Chairman, strategic research initiatives advanced significantly during the reporting period.
Notably, the team pursued evaluation of national emergency alerting systems, explored enhancements to
Bermuda’s public emergency messaging capabilities,
and initiated prel iminary planning for Bermuda’s National Risk Register (NRR). Work focused on disaster
preparedness for vulnerable populations, aligning national planning efforts with a commitment to inclusive
and equitable disaster risk reduction.
Stakeholder engagement remained a cornerstone of DRRMT operations. The team participated actively in numerous forums, including Port Security
Meetings focused on maritime and infrastructure vulnerabilities, Supply Chain Meetings to ensure critical
goods continuity during disasters, and Public Health
preparedness meetings aimed at strengthening the
health sector's resilience to emergencies.
Madam Chairman, furthermore, the DRRMT
took responsibility for maintaining Bermuda’s Emergency Broadcast [Studio ], ensuring that public communication systems were operational and reliable. The
team chaired the Public Safety Radio Users Group,
providing leadership in coordinating multiple agencies’
use of the radio network and addressing critical issues
promptly. International engagement continued through
FCDO Disaster Manager briefings and UK Met Office
hurricane updates, ensuring Bermuda remained
closely connected with global resilience efforts.
The DRRMT supported critical incident [response] during the period, particularly following the impacts of Hurricane Ernesto. The team coordinated
298 5 June 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda Senate stakeholders in the rapid repair and [ restoration ] of the
Public Safety Radio Network, ensuring critical communications infrastructure was brought back online efficiently. Additionally, the team conducted high- level
meetings to plan for the potential impacts of a strike by
the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA), focusing on continuity of operations and mitigating potential disruptions to Bermuda’s import -dependent supply
chain.
Madam Chairman, in summary, the Disaster
Risk Reduction and Mitigation Team’s demonstrated a
commitment to national resilience, operational excellence, legislative modernisation, stakeholder collaboration, and international best practice alignment. Through
disaster prep aredness activities, legislative support,
stakeholder engagement, operational support, infra-structure maintenance, and strategic research, the team significantly advanced Bermuda’s disaster risk reduction objectives and strengthened its natio nal emergency management framework.
Policy Development and Strategic Planning
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: [We] drafted and submitted
the National Risk Register (NRR) with Phase 1 training
completed in February 2025. A PowerPoint presentation was shared with stakeholders, and the second
phase is currently being scheduled. We worked with Policy Analysts to address le gislative concerns regarding the authority to declare a disaster, ensuring align-ment with the Governor’s existing powers.
Operational Frameworks and SOPs
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: We developed and submitted
EMO Operations Centre Standard Operating Proce-dures, drafted the Public Safety Radio Standard Oper-ating Procedures in collaboration with BPS and Corrections. We initiated a comprehensive Event Safety
Framework and event checklis ts, including oversight of
major national events such as the PGA Golf Tour, Chubb Race Weekend, Cup Match, and Bermuda Day
preparations.
Community Preparedness and Exercises
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: We coordinated participation
in CARIBE WAVE (March 2025) exercise, with a debrief scheduled for April 10. We engaged in planning
and evaluating cruise ship tabletop exercises and mass
rescue operations in partnership with Marine Operations and UK/US Coast Guard support (though TTX
postponed) .
We hosted Hurricane Preparedness Planning
sessions to address vegetation management, worksite
safety, and post -strike coordination across utilities and
public works and continued evacuation planning for
Ferry Reach, incorporating emergency plans from
stake holders like RUBiS and SOL. Business Unit 93000, Title Administration
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, this business unit is responsible for Gang Violence Reduction Team 2025 Update.
Madam Chairman, in 2025, the Gang Violence
Reduction Team (GVRT) continues to stand as a beacon of resilience and transformation, leading Bermuda’s fight against gang violence and youth disenfranchisement. In a time where communities face deeprooted social inequalities , fractured family systems, and
barriers to opportunity, the G ang Violence Reduction
Team, under the leadership of Bishop Leroy Bean has
remained unwavering in its mission , to intervene, uplift,
and empower.
The G ang Violence Reduction Team is not
simply a response mechanism—it is a force of [intentional ] change, working to dismantle cycles of violence
and rebuild pathways toward hope and healing.
Through tailored interventions and robust outreach efforts, the G ang Violence Reduction Team has [embedded] itself in schools, communities, workplaces, and
homes, meeting individuals where they are and walking
with them toward better futures.
Madam Chairman , the core mission of the
Gang Violence Reduction T eam remains focused on:
• Guiding individuals away from delinquent peer groups and toxic environments.
• Transforming behaviour patterns of those involved in gang activity and fostering reintegration into society.
• Preventing youth gang involvement by restoring social and familial bonds.
• Opening employment pathways for marginalised youth.
• Connecting individuals with mental and social health resources.
• Strengthening interpersonal relationships and
community accountability.
School Outreach
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Acknowledging that schools
often serve as recruitment grounds for gang activity,
the G ang Violence Reduction Team has amplified its
school presence across the I sland. This year, our outreach included
• Daily High School Lunch Engagements: Regu-lar presence at school lunch hours, offering
mentorship and [informal ] check -ins.
• Restorative Mediation Sessions: De- escalating
tensions and promoting peaceful resolution
among students.
• Incident Response and Crisis Management:
Post-incident school support, planning, and security assessments.
• Case Management and Tailored Youth Sessions: Individualised support plans and interventions for vulnerable students.
Bermuda Senate • Small Group Programming: Targeted skill -
building and emotional resilience workshops.
Early Intervention: “I AM” & G.R.E.A.T. Programmes
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Early engagement has
proven pivotal in changing life trajectories.
The “I Am” Programme highlights:
• Launched in 10 schools, with a new curriculum
piloted at Dellwood Middle School.
• Over 116 structured sessions held from Sep-tember 2023 to June 2024. Eighty -eight sessions were delivered between September 2024
and April 2025.
• One hundred and sixty -two boys across nine
primary schools and one middle school partici-pated.
• Thirty -five crisis supports, 36 mediation sessions, and 140 individualised supports delivered.
G.R.E.A.T. Programme
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: G.R.E.A.T. stands for,
Madam Chairman, Gang Resistance Education and
Training.
• Continues to engage primary school boys with
structured, values -based education aimed at
fostering resilience and resistance to gang influence.
Work Placement and Mentoring Programme (WPMP)
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Bridging school to work -
force:
• Fifteen youth participants, with 14 completing the eight -week placement.
• One hundred and thirty job coaching sessions
provided personalised support.
• 85 [per cent ] business partner satisfaction and
interest in future participation.
• Eight youth received extended paid work; four
secured jobs post -programme.
• There was no involvement in antisocial or criminal activity throughout the programme.
• 100 per cent of parents observed positive
growth in their children.
Redemption Programme: A Path to
Personal Reinvention
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: In 2024/25, the Redemption
Programme continued as a transformative space for young men:
• Eighteen trainees completed the 25- week programme. • One hundred and thirty -seven one- on-one
case management and job coaching sessions were conducted.
• Seventy -six sessions on career, personal development, and job readiness.
• Six secured employment; one enrolled at Bermuda College; one entered university.
• Ten crisis interventions managed with ongoing
support for four active participants.
Street -Level Outreach and Case Management
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Serving 78 young adults
(ages 18 to 35):
• Tailored, client -centred case management addressing housing, employment, legal, and
mental health needs.
• Safe housing, relocation support, prison visits,
and court advocacy have been offered.
• Quarterly community mediations and inter -
agency collaborations facilitated [systemic]
wraparound care.
Madam Chairman, in the aftermath of violence,
when fear grips families and uncertainty ripples through
neighbourhoods, it is the Coordinated Crisis Response
Team (CCRT) that steps forward to restore peace, stabilise emotions, and help communities begin the process of healing.
Functioning as a rapid- response arm of the
Gang Violence Reduction Team, the CCRT is mobi-lised immediately following serious violent incidents —
whether a shooting, stabbing, or other traumatic event.
The team is composed of experienced professionals and trusted community figures who work together to
deliver compassionate, coordinated support in real -
time.
In the past year, the CCRT was [ activated] following 28 violent incidents requiring hospital -based intervention, and an additional one community activation in response to heightened tensions on the ground. In
total, the team delivered 104 targeted post -incident
support sessions to survivors, close friends, and immediate family members impacted by violence.
Gang [Violence] Reduction Team: Leading the National Violence Reduction Strategy
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, today, I
am pleased to provide an update on the significant progress made since the launch of Bermuda’s National Violence Reduction Strategy (NVRS) —a strategic framework that marks a bold step forward in addressing violence in our community through prevention, intervention, and rehabilitation.
It is important to note that the Gang [ Violence ]
Reduction Team (GVRT), under the Ministry of National Security, was not only instrumental in developing
this strategy but also led its drafting and presentation to
Cabinet and the House of Assembly. The NVRS was
300 5 June 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda Senate officially tabled in the House on 15 November [ 2024]
and passed with full support following a debate on 6
December [2024] .
Strategic Leadership and Governance Framework
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: To ensure effective implementation, the NVRS is structured across three operational tiers:
1. National Violence Reduction Steering Committee (NVRSC). Chaired by the Min-ister of National Security and composed of
Permanent Secretaries from the Ministries
of National Security, Health, Education,
Legal Affairs, and Youth, Social Development and Seniors . This committee meets
regularly and ensures high- level alignment
and resource coordination across ministries.
2. Inter-Agency Gang Enforcement Team
(IGET). Focused on intelligence- led enforcement and coordinated interventions,
IGET works closely with law enforcement,
the courts, and other agencies to mitigate
gang activity in real time.
3. Inter-Agency Community Response
(IGCR). This prevention- focused tier
drives education, youth engagement, and
community partnerships to disrupt the root
causes of violence.
Major Programme Highlights Under the NVRS
Educational and Vocational Pathways
(Empowering Futures)
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Addressing root causes such
as economic disenfranchisement, the NVRS has prioritised access to education and job training:
• GED Programme: In partnership with C.A.R.E.,
grants are being issued to youth pursuing their
GEDs. Discussions with the Adult Education
School are underway to further expand access.
• Workforce Development: In collaboration with
the Ministry of Economy and Labour, apprenticeships and industry certifications are being
provided in high- demand sectors.
• Bermuda College Sponsorships: A new initiative is underway to sponsor associate degrees or certifications for youth from underserved
backgrounds.
New GVRT Staff and Sports -Based
Violence Prevention
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: A new GVRT team member
has been hired to implement violence reduction strate-gies within local sports clubs, leveraging [athletics ] as
a vehicle for positive engagement and gang prevention.
Public Messaging and Youth Engagement
Stop the Violence Campaign—March 2025
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: In collaboration with 7 South
Productions, a multimedia campaign will launch across
Bermuda featuring:
• video reels and podcasts;
• student -led campaigns on social media;
• mental health and anti -violence messaging by
youth for youth.
We have a plan to recognise that safe spaces
are essential for prevention. To that end, the NVRS is
also:
• Funding youth- centred organisations such as
Transitional Community Services, Future
Leaders, The Family Centre, Women’s Re-source Centre, and Money Muse to scale their outreach and impact for groups working di-rectly with youth .
The Chairman Chairman
Senator Simmons, just a time check. It is now [noon] . Can you indicate whether your preference would be to continue for another 15 minutes or go until 12: 30 pm? Sen. Lindsay Simmons: So, I have . . . I could probably finish this and then we could finish …
The Chairman Chairman
Thank you. Sen. Lindsay Simmons: No problem. Conclusion Sen. Lindsay Simmons: In conclusion, Madam Chairman, the National Violence Reduction Strategy represents our Government’s clear and coordinated response to the crisis of violence. The Gang Violence Reduction Team remains at the heart of this mission— not only as the strategy’s author …
Thank you.
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: No problem.
Conclusion
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: In conclusion, Madam Chairman, the National Violence Reduction Strategy represents our Government’s clear and coordinated response to the crisis of violence. The Gang Violence Reduction Team remains at the heart of this mission— not
only as the strategy’s author but as its most consist ent
engine for impact.
With over 80 strategic actions already underway, this work is changing lives and rebuilding communities. Through education, mentorship, crisis response,
and real opportunities, the GVRT is leading Bermuda toward a future that is safer, more resilient, and filled
with hope.
We extend our deepest appreciation to all
stakeholders, ministries, and community partners. Together, we are building a Bermuda where every young
person has a reason to be hopeful —and has a path to
succeed.
Plans for the Upcoming Year
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the Ministry of National Security is developing the Uniformed
Services Training Programme (USTP) as a strategic
Bermuda Senate initiative to address long- standing recruitment challenges within Bermuda’s uniformed services. The programme is designed to support Bermudians who narrowly fall short of the academic or physical fitness requirements for entry into the services. Open to individ-uals aged 18 to 49, the USTP will provide targeted
training and development aimed at increasing the pool
of qualified, service- ready candidates.
Madam Chairman, the programme will be delivered over a three- month period at Warwick Camp
and will include a structured combination of academic
instruction, physical fitness training, and personal and
professional development. Participants will engage in
modules focused on numeracy and literacy skills, interview and résumé preparation, and character develop-ment, alongside familiarisation placements within the
Bermuda Police Service, Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service, Customs Department, and the Department of
Corrections. The curriculum is currently under development, with input from professional training experts to
ensure alignment with the operational and cultural ex-pectations of Bermuda’s uniformed services. Participants in the programme will also receive fi nancial compensation during their training period.
Madam Chairman, the Ministry will deliver two
cohorts of the programme during the 2025/26 [ fiscal ]
year, with each cohort comprising up to 10 participants.
The first cohorts will be populated by individuals who were recently unsuccessful in recruitment processes
and narrowly missed the qualifying thresholds. These
individuals will be directly invited t o apply to the programme. The initial cohort will serve as a pilot, allowing
the Ministry to refine delivery based on participant outcomes and operational feedback. The programme also benefits from the support of internal government resources, making it both cost -effective and sustainable.
The Uniformed Services Training Programme
represents a significant investment in the future of Bermuda’s public safety infrastructure. By focusing on
trainable individuals who demonstrate potential but
have not yet met entry standards, the programme enhanc es recruitment outcomes, strengthens organisational resilience, and promotes meaningful opportuni-ties for Bermudians to serve their community with pride and professionalism.
Madam Chairman, as we look at the year
ahead, the Gang Violence Reduction Team (GVRT) will remain a central pillar in the ongoing implementation of
the National Violence Reduction Strategy (NVRS). As
both architects of the strategy and active agents of its delivery, the Gang Violence Reduction Team continues
to be a driving force behind Bermuda’s efforts to reduce
violence and build a safer, more inclusive society.
The G ang Violence Reduction Team’s work is
not theoretical. It is practical, personal, and profoundly
impactful. Through education, mentorship, crisis re-sponse, and real -life opportunities, the G ang Violence
Reduction Team is changing lives, restoring communities, and guiding young people toward hope and purpose. Our next steps reflect a commitment to deepening this impact and expanding the reach of our programmes in alignment with the eight strategic goals of
the N ational Violence Reduction Strategy .
Madam Chairman, the G ang Violence Reduction Team will:
• Continue leading and implementing core violence prevention initiatives in direct alignment
with the N ational Violence Reduction Strategy ,
serving as key stakeholders across all three
strategic tiers of the [National Violence Reduction] Strategy (Steering Committee, Inter -
Agency Gang Enforcement, and Inter -Agency
Community Response [ teams ]).
• Support community -based prevention and
early intervention through:
o Grants to sports clubs to provide afterschool homework assistance, life skills
development, and violence prevention
workshops for young people.
o Funding youth- centred organisations
that offer trauma- informed, wraparound support to vulnerable children
and families.
o Expanded counselling services and
therapeutic programmes to address
mental health needs and support emotional healing for people affected by violence or violent incidents.
• Launch the “Stop the Violence” multimedia
campaign in collaboration with 7 South Productions, featuring:
o Video reels, short films, and podcasts
o Student -led social media campaigns
o Messaging that addresses gang vio-lence, emotional health, and youth empowerment
• Host the “Stop the Violence” Youth Conference
this June where students from across the Island will be mentored by local creatives to design and present youth- led anti -violence campaigns, while reinforcing peer advocacy and resilience.
• Expand our Youth Mentoring and Work Placement Programme, supporting 25 students with
employment readiness, mentorship, and workplace experience in a safe, structured setting.
• Grow the Redemption Programme to support
25 young men through a 20 -week curriculum of
personal growth, life skills training, conflict resolution, and career exposure.
• Advance educational and vocational pathways
under the Empowering Futures initiative, which includes:
o GED programmes in partnership with
C.A.R.E . and discussions to expand
offerings through the Adult Education School.
302 5 June 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda Senate o Apprenticeships and industry certifications through the Ministry of Economy
and Labour and other local training
programmes and partnerships.
o Associate degrees and certifications
through new sponsorships at Bermuda
College.
• Support the broader NVRS implementation, including:
o Violence prevention workshops for
community leaders and service providers.
o Parenting support programmes, including culturally relevant workshops
and targeted fatherhood support
groups.
o “Through- the-gate” re- entry support
packages for individuals transitioning
from incarceration, tied to community -
based care models.
o Community roundtables to gather
feedback, build local partnerships, and
identify service gaps.
• Uphold the NVRS Monitoring and Evaluation
Framework, ensuring every action taken is
guided by measurable goals, accountability,
and evidence- based practices to deliver meaningful results.
Madam Chairman, the Gang Violence Reduction Team will continue to serve on the frontline— offering guidance, intervention, and opportunity to those
who need it most. We remain committed to working with
all stakeholders to ensure the effectiveness of the National Violence Reduction Strategy and, most importantly, to build a Bermuda where safety, dignity, and
opportunity are not the exception, but the expectation.
Madam Chairman, th is ends my presentation
on Head 83, Ministry Headquarters.
Thank you, Madam Chairman.
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: No problem.
Conclusion
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: In conclusion, Madam Chairman, the National Violence Reduction Strategy represents our Government’s clear and coordinated response to the crisis of violence. The Gang Violence Reduction Team remains at the heart of this mission— not
only as the strategy’s author but as its most consist ent
engine for impact.
With over 80 strategic actions already underway, this work is changing lives and rebuilding communities. Through education, mentorship, crisis response,
and real opportunities, the GVRT is leading Bermuda toward a future that is safer, more resilient, and filled
with hope.
We extend our deepest appreciation to all
stakeholders, ministries, and community partners. Together, we are building a Bermuda where every young
person has a reason to be hopeful —and has a path to
succeed.
Plans for the Upcoming Year
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the Ministry of National Security is developing the Uniformed
Services Training Programme (USTP) as a strategic
Bermuda Senate initiative to address long- standing recruitment challenges within Bermuda’s uniformed services. The programme is designed to support Bermudians who narrowly fall short of the academic or physical fitness requirements for entry into the services. Open to individ-uals aged 18 to 49, the USTP will provide targeted
training and development aimed at increasing the pool
of qualified, service- ready candidates.
Madam Chairman, the programme will be delivered over a three- month period at Warwick Camp
and will include a structured combination of academic
instruction, physical fitness training, and personal and
professional development. Participants will engage in
modules focused on numeracy and literacy skills, interview and résumé preparation, and character develop-ment, alongside familiarisation placements within the
Bermuda Police Service, Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service, Customs Department, and the Department of
Corrections. The curriculum is currently under development, with input from professional training experts to
ensure alignment with the operational and cultural ex-pectations of Bermuda’s uniformed services. Participants in the programme will also receive fi nancial compensation during their training period.
Madam Chairman, the Ministry will deliver two
cohorts of the programme during the 2025/26 [ fiscal ]
year, with each cohort comprising up to 10 participants.
The first cohorts will be populated by individuals who were recently unsuccessful in recruitment processes
and narrowly missed the qualifying thresholds. These
individuals will be directly invited t o apply to the programme. The initial cohort will serve as a pilot, allowing
the Ministry to refine delivery based on participant outcomes and operational feedback. The programme also benefits from the support of internal government resources, making it both cost -effective and sustainable.
The Uniformed Services Training Programme
represents a significant investment in the future of Bermuda’s public safety infrastructure. By focusing on
trainable individuals who demonstrate potential but
have not yet met entry standards, the programme enhanc es recruitment outcomes, strengthens organisational resilience, and promotes meaningful opportuni-ties for Bermudians to serve their community with pride and professionalism.
Madam Chairman, as we look at the year
ahead, the Gang Violence Reduction Team (GVRT) will remain a central pillar in the ongoing implementation of
the National Violence Reduction Strategy (NVRS). As
both architects of the strategy and active agents of its delivery, the Gang Violence Reduction Team continues
to be a driving force behind Bermuda’s efforts to reduce
violence and build a safer, more inclusive society.
The G ang Violence Reduction Team’s work is
not theoretical. It is practical, personal, and profoundly
impactful. Through education, mentorship, crisis re-sponse, and real -life opportunities, the G ang Violence
Reduction Team is changing lives, restoring communities, and guiding young people toward hope and purpose. Our next steps reflect a commitment to deepening this impact and expanding the reach of our programmes in alignment with the eight strategic goals of
the N ational Violence Reduction Strategy .
Madam Chairman, the G ang Violence Reduction Team will:
• Continue leading and implementing core violence prevention initiatives in direct alignment
with the N ational Violence Reduction Strategy ,
serving as key stakeholders across all three
strategic tiers of the [National Violence Reduction] Strategy (Steering Committee, Inter -
Agency Gang Enforcement, and Inter -Agency
Community Response [ teams ]).
• Support community -based prevention and
early intervention through:
o Grants to sports clubs to provide afterschool homework assistance, life skills
development, and violence prevention
workshops for young people.
o Funding youth- centred organisations
that offer trauma- informed, wraparound support to vulnerable children
and families.
o Expanded counselling services and
therapeutic programmes to address
mental health needs and support emotional healing for people affected by violence or violent incidents.
• Launch the “Stop the Violence” multimedia
campaign in collaboration with 7 South Productions, featuring:
o Video reels, short films, and podcasts
o Student -led social media campaigns
o Messaging that addresses gang vio-lence, emotional health, and youth empowerment
• Host the “Stop the Violence” Youth Conference
this June where students from across the Island will be mentored by local creatives to design and present youth- led anti -violence campaigns, while reinforcing peer advocacy and resilience.
• Expand our Youth Mentoring and Work Placement Programme, supporting 25 students with
employment readiness, mentorship, and workplace experience in a safe, structured setting.
• Grow the Redemption Programme to support
25 young men through a 20 -week curriculum of
personal growth, life skills training, conflict resolution, and career exposure.
• Advance educational and vocational pathways
under the Empowering Futures initiative, which includes:
o GED programmes in partnership with
C.A.R.E . and discussions to expand
offerings through the Adult Education School.
302 5 June 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda Senate o Apprenticeships and industry certifications through the Ministry of Economy
and Labour and other local training
programmes and partnerships.
o Associate degrees and certifications
through new sponsorships at Bermuda
College.
• Support the broader NVRS implementation, including:
o Violence prevention workshops for
community leaders and service providers.
o Parenting support programmes, including culturally relevant workshops
and targeted fatherhood support
groups.
o “Through- the-gate” re- entry support
packages for individuals transitioning
from incarceration, tied to community -
based care models.
o Community roundtables to gather
feedback, build local partnerships, and
identify service gaps.
• Uphold the NVRS Monitoring and Evaluation
Framework, ensuring every action taken is
guided by measurable goals, accountability,
and evidence- based practices to deliver meaningful results.
Madam Chairman, the Gang Violence Reduction Team will continue to serve on the frontline— offering guidance, intervention, and opportunity to those
who need it most. We remain committed to working with
all stakeholders to ensure the effectiveness of the National Violence Reduction Strategy and, most importantly, to build a Bermuda where safety, dignity, and
opportunity are not the exception, but the expectation.
Madam Chairman, th is ends my presentation
on Head 83, Ministry Headquarters.
Thank you, Madam Chairman.
The Chairman Chairman
Thank you, Senator Simmons, Junior Minister and Senator Simmons. As discussed, we will now break for lunch, so we will break for lunch at 12: 11 pm and reconvene at 1:45 pm. Are Senators in agreement? Thank you. Proceedings in Committee suspended at 12:11 pm Proceedings in Committee resumed at …
Thank you, Senator Simmons, Junior
Minister and Senator Simmons.
As discussed, we will now break for lunch, so
we will break for lunch at 12: 11 pm and reconvene at
1:45 pm.
Are Senators in agreement? Thank you.
Proceedings in Committee suspended at 12:11 pm
Proceedings in Committee resumed at 1:47 pm
[Sen. Tawana Tannock, Chairman]
COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY
ESTIMATES OF REVENUE AND
EXPENDITURE FOR THE YEAR 2025/26
MINISTRY OF NATIONAL SECURITY
[Continuation thereof]
Minister and Senator Simmons.
As discussed, we will now break for lunch, so
we will break for lunch at 12: 11 pm and reconvene at
1:45 pm.
Are Senators in agreement? Thank you.
Proceedings in Committee suspended at 12:11 pm
Proceedings in Committee resumed at 1:47 pm
[Sen. Tawana Tannock, Chairman]
COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY
ESTIMATES OF REVENUE AND
EXPENDITURE FOR THE YEAR 2025/26
MINISTRY OF NATIONAL SECURITY
[Continuation thereof]
The Chairman Chairman
Good afternoon, Senators, welcome back. We are now in Committee of the whole [Senate] for further consideration of the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for the year 2025/26. Heads 7 and 8 of the National Security are now to be debated. I call on Junior Minister Senator Lindsay Simmons in …
Good afternoon, Senators, welcome
back.
We are now in Committee of the whole [Senate] for further consideration of the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for the year 2025/26. Heads 7 and
8 of the National Security are now to be debated.
I call on Junior Minister Senator Lindsay Simmons in charge to proceed.
Junior Minister, Senator Simmons, you have
the floor.
HEAD 7 —BERMUDA POLICE SERVICE
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Thank you, Madam Chairman.
It gives me great pleasure to present Head 7,
the Bermuda Police Service, found on pages B -273
through B -276 of the Budget Book.
Mission
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the mission of the Bermuda Police Service is, Making Bermuda safer. To make Bermuda safer, the Bermuda Po-lice Service strives to
• maintain the confidence of the community;
• treat all persons fairly with dignity and respect;
• protect vulnerable victims;
• reduce crime, particularly focusing on serious crime and gang- related criminality;
• reduce antisocial behaviour; and
• enhance road safety.
Madam Chairman, the Bermuda Police Service
(BPS) carries out its objectives by aligning its organisational structure to maintain its community safety
agenda and the prevention of criminal risk (locally and
internationally) through a funded establishment of 482
employees as shown on page B -276. This repr esents
an increase of nine [ police officers ], or 2 per cent (full -
time equivalents) over the original budget for 2024/25.
Madam Chairman, the Bermuda Police Service
continues to advance its 2021– 2026 Strategic and Operational Plan. This will allow the following several key initiatives to progress:
• The Bermuda Police Service Gang Targeting
Team continues to work with the Ministry of National Security’s Gang Violence Reduction
Team to reduce the threat in this area and seeks to divert persons from gang- related
criminality. However, significant risk to the
community remains from gun/gang- related violence and the Bermuda Police Service continues to strive to deter such acts through effective use of intelligence and specialist policing.
Bermuda Senate • The Bermuda Police Service continues its work
regarding standards of professional behaviour
and anti -corruption policy and procedure to
which relevant best practice is being utilised by
the National Anti -Corruption Committee in support of other government departments and the
United Nations Anti -Corruption Self -Assessment for Bermuda.
• The BPS also continues its work in support of
the National Anti -Money Laundering Committee (NAMLC) to prevent financial crime, money
laundering and counter -terrorism funding, with
a strategic focus to maintain its excellent Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF )
grading.
• The BPS further continues its work to prevent
and respond to cybersecurity matters and help
maintain Bermuda’s reputation as a premier international financial jurisdiction.
• The BPS is working to implement a framework
for greater multi -agency collaboration on the
problem of domestic abuse. We seek to enhance communication and improve training
with a view to improving service and reducing
victimisation.
Expenditure Overview
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman , I will now
invite your attention to the current account estimates for Head 7, which can be found on page B -274.
The total current expenditure for the 2025/26
financial year is estimated to be $69,769,000. This rep-resents an increase of $4,931,000, or 8 per cent from
the 2024/25 financial year. This change is due primarily
to salary increases, resulting from negotiat ions between the various unions and the Bermuda Government. Salary and wage increases were necessary because of pay freezes, furlough days and not keeping up
with CPI [ Consumer Price Index ] increases over the
last 14 years. Proposed salaries of $54,860,000, which can be found on page B -275 represents an increase of
$4,653,000, or a 9 per cent increase year over year.
Programme 0701, Commissioner’s Office
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the BPS
is focused on the protection of the Island’s property and
its people. To ensure such protection, we require boots
on the ground—that is manpower. Officer salaries represent a primary expense in programme 0701. Total
funding for programme 0701 as shown on page B -274
is $54,592,000. The Commissioner's Office represents
78 per cent of the BPS total budget and covers proposed costs for 410 officers and four civilian staff.
Funding for this programme increased by $4, 431,000,
or 9 per cent.
The budget also includes funding of $4 million
for police overtime costs and other benefits for officers as mandated by the Police (Conditions of Service) Orders 2024.
Programme [0701] , Corporate Services Division
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the Corporate Services Division includes the following depart-ments:
• 17010—Human Resources
• 17020—Finance and Administration
• 17025—Information Management Services
(IMS)
• 17190—Training and Development Department
• 17300— Vehicle Stores
• 17310—Uniform Stores
Funding for programme 0702 for the 2025/26
financial year is $6,696,000, an increase of $191,000, or 3 per cent year over year.
Madam Chairman , the department under the
Corporate Services Division that requires the most
funding is Information and Management Services
(IMS) . The total funding of $2,692,000 represents
40 per cent of the budget for the programme. As the
world becomes more reliant on technology, so does policing. And the cost of technology is increasingly pricey
as the world veers away from vendor -owned software
applications into the world of paying for software licences for periods of time. In addition, computer hard-ware is deemed obsolete, typically in five years or less,
and therefore needs constant replacing. Computer hardware and software are the primary drivers of ex-penditure in the Information and Management Services
department.
Madam Chairman , in keeping with our mission
of making Bermuda safer, we cannot do so without
[competent ] officers safeguarding people and property
on the Island of Bermuda. The BPS must constantly re-cruit as we lose officers through attrition and other reasons. Funding under cost centre 17010, Human Resources, of $1,254,000 provides support for recruiting
and various medical benefits as mandated by the Police (Conditions of Service) Order, or COSO.
Madam Chairman, the 2025/26 budget for finance and administration has been set at $1,522,000, on page B -274. This is an increase of $143,000, or
10 per cent. Finance and Maintenance provides
$271,000 for maintenance of the numerous properties of the Bermuda Police Servi ce. Included are the police
barracks located in Prospect, Somerset Police Station
and Southside Police Station, as well as various offices
located at our Prospect site. But the bulk of the budget ,
$904,220, covers salaries for 11 full -time equivalents
as found on page B -276. Staff under this budget are
responsible for BPS payroll, vendor and other pay-ments, stores and facilities. In addition, there is a provision of $100,000 for the securing of overseas witnesses.
304 5 June 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda Senate Programme 0703, Operational Policing Division
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, programme 0703 previously consisted of four separate departments. The departments were merged under one cohesive unit in the 2024/25 financial year under the
title Community Policing Unit. Funding for this unit is set
at $2,216,000. This on page B -274. [ There is] funding
of $1,005,000 in salaries for the 17 full -time equivalents
who support the Bermuda Police Service officers in
their policing duties. The unit pays for the cost of station duty officers (SDOs) who whilst civilian, provide critical
support for officers.
In addition, the budget funds rent and associated costs of $264,000 for the Southside Police Station
as well as cleaning services and various other costs incurred with running offices for the department.
Programme 0704, Operational Support Division
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, Operational Support Division provides funding for the following departments:
• 17090—Court Liaison Unit
• 17120—Technical Operations
• 17130—Garage and Workshop
• 17160—Forensic Support
The total budget for this programme is
$3,523,000, an increase of $218,000, or 7 per cent.
Madam Chairman, while personnel for policing
are important so are our operational vehicles which are
on Bermuda’s roads 24/7. The cost of which is funded
under 17130, Garage and Workshop, in the amount of
$1,524,000, an increase of $176,000, or 13 per cent
year over year. The increase is necessary to fund increasing costs for vehicle parts.
Cost centre 17130, Garage and Workshop includes wages and salaries for garage mechanics, and the fleet manager, as well as $774,000 for inventory,
spare parts, fuel, and insurance for the Bermuda Police
Service fleet. The budget for garage and workshop represents 43 per cent of the total budget under the Operational Support Division.
Programme 0708, Serious Crime Divisions
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the Serious Crime Divisions includes the following departments:
• 17140— Serious Crime Units
• 17150—Drugs and Financial Crime Department
• 17170—Intelligence Division
The Police Support Unit as shown on page B -
274 is now incorporated under programme 0703 which
is why there is a zero balance shown for this unit. The budget for programme 0708 is $2,460,000, an increase
of $36,000, or 1 per cent year over year. Madam [Chairman] , within the Serious Crime
Division lies the Serious Crime Unit [SCU] with a
budget of $1,077,000, which represents 44 per cent of
the total SCU budget. Prominent in the Serious Crime Unit are costs for overseas consultants at $683,000. These consultants are a critical part of the BPS, providing skilled and experienced investigators who assist
both Intelligence and Financial Crime Units, as well as
Forensics Support Officers who deliver essential crime
scene response services. These highly s killed professionals are required because they bring capacity, capability and specialised expertise not locally available.
Their contribution ensures that BPS maintains operational effectiveness in complex investigations and serious cases while meeting int ernational standards of evidence collection and analysis.
0710, Bermuda Reserve Police
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman , 0710,
Bermuda Reserve Police with a budget of $282,000.
The budget primarily funds bounty payments and associated costs for Bermuda’s Reserve Police Officers.
Revenue Overview
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, r evenue
shown on page B -275 for the Bermuda Police Service
consists of income from
• 8457, general licences;
• 8521, firearms licences ;
• 8523, licences for the use of explosives;
• 8525, security guard fees;
• 8617, publications; and
• 8801, facilities.
The BPS is responsible for the provision of firearm and explosive licences on Island. In addition, the
BPS reviews and approves licences to the various se-curity guard services. The BPS also provides barrack
housing facilities at a nominal cost at the Prospect location. With our active recruiting efforts dur ing the last
two years the availability of such housing is critical as a benefit and incentive for new officers. In addition, the
BPS provides fingerprinting services, police and traffic
reports for the public. Because the BPS is not considered (nor should they be) a revenue generator, money earned from these sources are nominal. Therefore, the
impact of such revenue is presumed unchanged from
the prior year at $698,000.
Subjective Analysis
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: The Subjective Analysis of
current account estimates of [Head] 7 is found on page
B-275. I will highlight the material changes year over
year.
Madam Chairman, with a projected budget of
$69,769,000, Salaries and Wages represent s 79 per
cent of the Bermuda Police Service budget. The budget
Bermuda Senate for salaries is $54,860,000, an increase of 9 per cent.
The budget for wages is $646,000, an increase of 5 per
cent. The funding is for 482 full -time equivalents comprised of 410 officers and 72 civilian staff, as shown on
page B -276. The increase for salaries and wages is a
result of recently negotiated salary uplifts.
Madam Chairman, repair and maintenance is
budgeted at $2,390,000, an increase of $101,000. The
increase is for additional funding required to repair and
maintain various Bermuda Police Service properties
throughout the Island. With the ageing buildings and in-creased repair costs, it was necessary to increase their
budget.
Madam Chairman , materials and supplies
have increased from $1,912,000 to $2,057,000. The increase of $145,000 is because of increasing costs for
vehicle parts and the costs of outsourcing the mainte-nance of some vehicles, otherwise there were no
changes.
Capital Expenditure
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Capital development costs.
Madam Chairman, as shown on page C -7, the Bermuda Government is funding various capital projects
for the Bermuda Police Service in the 2025/26 financial
year. Most importantly, the Government has provided
$2,000,000 for renovations to the old headquarters building in Pr ospect. It is the desire of the BPS to move
senior command and the Serious Crime Unit back to its base in Prospect. In so doing, the BPS can eliminate rent and associated costs at the Front Str eet location,
allowing the courts the use of the fifth floor of Hamilton Police Station and bring staff back to their original home. This is an ongoing, massive undertaking and is
projected to be finished in August 2026.
Capital Acquisition Costs
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the BPS
has been provided with $1,275,000 [ for capital acquisitions ] as shown on page C -15. Madam Chairman,
$300,000 has been provided to purchase new vehicles. As a 24/7 operation, BPS vehicles endure severe wear and tear and each year some must be replaced for
safety reasons. It is anticipated that the BPS will purchase nine new operational vehicles in the 2025/26 financial year.
In addition, the BPS has been funded
$900,000 to replace switches for its network. These switches are well beyond end of life and if not replaced
the service risks a complete shutdown of its information
systems. As stated earlier, today’s police service is
technology -driven and information systems are [ integral] to our operations . Therefore, the replacement of
these switches is critical to BPS operations.
Madam Chairman, the BPS has also been allocated $30,000 for the acquisition of computer equipment. And $45,000 for the replacement of ageing,
out-of-warranty, body armour.
Staffing
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: As previously mentioned, the
BPS has budgeted for 482 officers and staff [as noted
on] page B -276, for the 2025/26 for the 2025/26 financial year. This number consists of 410 officers and 72 civilian staff members. This represents an increase of
nine additional funded posts when compared to the original submission for the 2024/25 budget.
Service Initiatives
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the Bermuda Police Service has a strategic and operational plan for the period of 2021 to 2026 with five key priorities:
1. Reducing serious crime
2. Protecting vulnerable persons
3. Raising confidence in the police
4. Reducing harm on our roads
5. Developing digital policing
As we move toward the conclusion of this planning cycle, in 2025, the Bermuda Police Service will
begin a comprehensive internal and external consultative process to form our next five- year strategic plan.
This forward- looking initiative will gather insights from
officers, staff, community members, and partner agen-cies to shape our priorities and approaches for 2026 to
2031.
A key input to this process will be the findings
from the upcoming Security and Defence Review —a
Throne Speech initiative that examines what capabilities, capacities, services and resources the BPS needs
to best position itself to meet Bermuda's security n eeds
over the next 10 to 15 years. This review will help us align our future strategic planning with broader national
security considerations and ensure the BPS is prepared for emerging challenges.
The consultative process will be guided by our
commitment to community satisfaction and confidence,
ensuring that public input helps shape our future direction. By combining professional expertise with commu-nity voice, we aim to develop a strategic plan that builds
on our current achievements while adapting to evolving
security threats and community expectations.
Performance Measures
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, I am
pleased to report that the department’s forecast performance measures, which are shown on page B -277, for
fiscal year 2024/25 were achieved.
Public satisfaction with the Bermuda Police
Service represents the cornerstone of our performance framework. At 6.2 against our target of 6.0, this measure—independently assessed each quarter through
306 5 June 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda Senate comprehensive surveys —[transcends ] all other
measures for a fundamental reason: policing exists
only through the consent and support of our community. When citizens express satisfaction with our service, it signals their trust in our approach, their confi-dence in our abilities, and their w illingness to partner
with us in Making Bermuda Safer .
Traditional metrics like crime statistics, while
relevant, only tell part of the story. They measure what
we do, not how we do it. A police service can achieve
technical objectives yet fail in its primary mission if the public feels unheard, unfairly treat ed, or unsafe. These
independent quarterly measurements capture the people element of policing that no procedural measure can
quantify. Simply put, if the community is not satisfied
with their service, the BPS is failing, no matter what the
other numbers s uggest.
Policing Issues for 2025/26
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, like many
police services globally, the Bermuda Police Service
faces ongoing staffing considerations that require careful management. While the current staffing level of 382
officers presents challenges, we are pleased to report that funding is not an is sue and that we are making
great progress in increasing the number of police offic-ers in the Bermuda Police Service. For example, last year there were 360 officers, which means that we have
increased the number of officers by 22, or 6 per cent.
Madam Chairman, the BPS has implemented
several promising initiatives to address staffing needs
and as is shown in our increased numbers, these efforts are starting to bear fruit. I am pleased to report that the Bermuda Police Service passed out 22 new police
officers on 8 May 2025; and there are currently 14 new
cadets undergoing training who will be ready for de-ployment in September. Moreover, we began another
recruitment drive in April 2025 and after initial vetting
was completed, there are 139 applicant s still in the
pool. The next recruit foundation course is expected to graduate in March 2026, further bolstering the number
of officers in the ranks. Further, Madam Chairman, we
are on course to start another recruitment drive in June or July 2025.
Madam Chairman , local recruiting efforts have
re-doubled with the assistance of a government -led
cross- ministry recruiting initiative that is showing positive results. Additionally, the Government has ex-panded local recruiting opportunities to include resident non-Bermu dians, which will increase numbers and reduce demand [on] barrack accommodations as these
candidates are already housed within the community.
Once all local recruitment options have been
exhausted, overseas recruitment may become neces-sary. There is a strong commitment to take whatever steps are needed to ensure the Bermuda Police Service is sufficiently staffed to meet the Island's security
needs. These proactive measures will help address
expected retirements over the coming years while ensuring the Bermuda Police Service maintains appropriate staffing levels to fulfil its mandate of Making Bermuda Safer .
Madam Chairman, despite these staffing constraints, we face several significant public safety chal-lenges that require targeted action this fiscal year. The
scourge of gang and gun violence continues to impact
our community with concerning developments. We are
now witnes sing the first -generation gang member's
children coming of age and choosing to carry forward
their fathers' destructive legacy, often with greater levels of violence and disregard for community safety.
This intergenerational cycle demands ren ewed intervention strategies focused on at -risk youth to divert
them from this path. Knife crime is also rising at an alarming rate and addressing this trend will be a priority
for the Bermuda Police Service this year.
Domestic abuse remains a concern requiring
sensitive handling. We will continue the work already
started in partnership with other agencies to ensure
community members feel confident to report these sensitive matters. Our goal is to build more confidence i n
the police for victims to seek help while providing the
specialised response and support when they do come
forward.
Madam Chairman, the summer months will
bring additional challenges to community safety as residents and visitors socialise in larger numbers on
beaches, on the water, and within bars and restaurants.
These challenges include increased tensions between
rival gangs, antis ocial behaviour, and impaired driving.
The BPS will maintain an intelligence- led approach to
target the most violent and prolific harm- causers.
Additionally, vagrancy and its associated crime
continue to impact the look and feel of Bermuda, particularly in the City of Hamilton. Business owners lament lost revenue, intimidation, and concerns about the
safety of unaccompanied women. While the roots of
this complex social problem extend beyond policing
alone, the BPS remains committed to addressing reported crimes while working with our partners to pursue
longer -term solutions.
Each of these challenges requires not just enforcement action but community partnership and
trust—the foundation upon which effective policing is
built. Our independently assessed public satisfaction
rating of 6.2 reflects a measure of community confi-dence in our approaches to these issues, but we recognise there is always room for improvement. We will
continue to ensure our responses are visible, effective,
and build public trust across all communities, even as
we work to address our critical staffing needs.
2024/25 Accomplishments
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman , I will now
provide this Honourable House with some sobering
Bermuda Senate statistics on what the Bermuda Police Service dealt
with over the calendar year (January through December 2024).
Madam Chairman, in Making Bermuda Safer ,
between January and December 2024, the Bermuda Police Service responded to approximately 12,700
events/incidents. Included in that figure, the BPS responded to an average of twenty -five 911 calls every
day.
Madam Chairman, there were 1,853 arrests
during the period. Notably 201 involved the arrest of an
impaired driver, with some drivers being double, treble
or even more than four times over the limit (389 was
the highest DUI in 2024).
Madam Chairman, 3,719 crimes were recorded and investigated, including nine murders, four of
which were committed using a firearm, and five of which were committed using a knife. Of note, there was
a knife- related triple homicide.
Madam Chairman, the BPS dealt with 1,461
road traffic collisions of which seven were fatalities and
128 involved serious injury. In the last 10 years, 109
persons have died on our roads and 1,040 have been
seriously injured.
Madam Chairman, 6,942 traffic tickets were issued, with 1,718 tickets issued for speed. Of note is that
393 of the speeding tickets were issued for persons
driving 70 kilometres per hour , or more than double the
speed limit.
Madam Chairman, Stop and Search is a powerful tool that allows police officers to stop, question, and if required, search persons for weapons. The tool
is used proportionately, as and when tensions, particularly gang tensions, increase. The Bermuda Police Ser-vice issued 1,066 Stop and Search forms to reduce opportunities for violence.
Madam Chairman, despite these challenges,
we should remain optimistic about the future of policing
in Bermuda. Our women and men work with dedication
and integrity every day to serve this community. The
trust placed in them—reflected in the independently
measured satisf action rating—is something we value
and strive to strengthen with every interaction. We know that public confidence is not just a metric; it is the foundation that enables everything they do. As they
move forward with the plans and incentives outlined today, they do so with a firm commitment to transparency, accountability, and genuine partnership with the
people of Bermuda. When the community and police stand together, we create not just a safer Bermuda, but a stronger one.
Madam Chairman, that ends my presentation
on Head 9 [sic], Bermuda Police Service. I shall now
move on to Head 88, Bermuda National Drug Control.
back.
We are now in Committee of the whole [Senate] for further consideration of the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for the year 2025/26. Heads 7 and
8 of the National Security are now to be debated.
I call on Junior Minister Senator Lindsay Simmons in charge to proceed.
Junior Minister, Senator Simmons, you have
the floor.
HEAD 7 —BERMUDA POLICE SERVICE
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Thank you, Madam Chairman.
It gives me great pleasure to present Head 7,
the Bermuda Police Service, found on pages B -273
through B -276 of the Budget Book.
Mission
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the mission of the Bermuda Police Service is, Making Bermuda safer. To make Bermuda safer, the Bermuda Po-lice Service strives to
• maintain the confidence of the community;
• treat all persons fairly with dignity and respect;
• protect vulnerable victims;
• reduce crime, particularly focusing on serious crime and gang- related criminality;
• reduce antisocial behaviour; and
• enhance road safety.
Madam Chairman, the Bermuda Police Service
(BPS) carries out its objectives by aligning its organisational structure to maintain its community safety
agenda and the prevention of criminal risk (locally and
internationally) through a funded establishment of 482
employees as shown on page B -276. This repr esents
an increase of nine [ police officers ], or 2 per cent (full -
time equivalents) over the original budget for 2024/25.
Madam Chairman, the Bermuda Police Service
continues to advance its 2021– 2026 Strategic and Operational Plan. This will allow the following several key initiatives to progress:
• The Bermuda Police Service Gang Targeting
Team continues to work with the Ministry of National Security’s Gang Violence Reduction
Team to reduce the threat in this area and seeks to divert persons from gang- related
criminality. However, significant risk to the
community remains from gun/gang- related violence and the Bermuda Police Service continues to strive to deter such acts through effective use of intelligence and specialist policing.
Bermuda Senate • The Bermuda Police Service continues its work
regarding standards of professional behaviour
and anti -corruption policy and procedure to
which relevant best practice is being utilised by
the National Anti -Corruption Committee in support of other government departments and the
United Nations Anti -Corruption Self -Assessment for Bermuda.
• The BPS also continues its work in support of
the National Anti -Money Laundering Committee (NAMLC) to prevent financial crime, money
laundering and counter -terrorism funding, with
a strategic focus to maintain its excellent Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF )
grading.
• The BPS further continues its work to prevent
and respond to cybersecurity matters and help
maintain Bermuda’s reputation as a premier international financial jurisdiction.
• The BPS is working to implement a framework
for greater multi -agency collaboration on the
problem of domestic abuse. We seek to enhance communication and improve training
with a view to improving service and reducing
victimisation.
Expenditure Overview
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman , I will now
invite your attention to the current account estimates for Head 7, which can be found on page B -274.
The total current expenditure for the 2025/26
financial year is estimated to be $69,769,000. This rep-resents an increase of $4,931,000, or 8 per cent from
the 2024/25 financial year. This change is due primarily
to salary increases, resulting from negotiat ions between the various unions and the Bermuda Government. Salary and wage increases were necessary because of pay freezes, furlough days and not keeping up
with CPI [ Consumer Price Index ] increases over the
last 14 years. Proposed salaries of $54,860,000, which can be found on page B -275 represents an increase of
$4,653,000, or a 9 per cent increase year over year.
Programme 0701, Commissioner’s Office
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the BPS
is focused on the protection of the Island’s property and
its people. To ensure such protection, we require boots
on the ground—that is manpower. Officer salaries represent a primary expense in programme 0701. Total
funding for programme 0701 as shown on page B -274
is $54,592,000. The Commissioner's Office represents
78 per cent of the BPS total budget and covers proposed costs for 410 officers and four civilian staff.
Funding for this programme increased by $4, 431,000,
or 9 per cent.
The budget also includes funding of $4 million
for police overtime costs and other benefits for officers as mandated by the Police (Conditions of Service) Orders 2024.
Programme [0701] , Corporate Services Division
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the Corporate Services Division includes the following depart-ments:
• 17010—Human Resources
• 17020—Finance and Administration
• 17025—Information Management Services
(IMS)
• 17190—Training and Development Department
• 17300— Vehicle Stores
• 17310—Uniform Stores
Funding for programme 0702 for the 2025/26
financial year is $6,696,000, an increase of $191,000, or 3 per cent year over year.
Madam Chairman , the department under the
Corporate Services Division that requires the most
funding is Information and Management Services
(IMS) . The total funding of $2,692,000 represents
40 per cent of the budget for the programme. As the
world becomes more reliant on technology, so does policing. And the cost of technology is increasingly pricey
as the world veers away from vendor -owned software
applications into the world of paying for software licences for periods of time. In addition, computer hard-ware is deemed obsolete, typically in five years or less,
and therefore needs constant replacing. Computer hardware and software are the primary drivers of ex-penditure in the Information and Management Services
department.
Madam Chairman , in keeping with our mission
of making Bermuda safer, we cannot do so without
[competent ] officers safeguarding people and property
on the Island of Bermuda. The BPS must constantly re-cruit as we lose officers through attrition and other reasons. Funding under cost centre 17010, Human Resources, of $1,254,000 provides support for recruiting
and various medical benefits as mandated by the Police (Conditions of Service) Order, or COSO.
Madam Chairman, the 2025/26 budget for finance and administration has been set at $1,522,000, on page B -274. This is an increase of $143,000, or
10 per cent. Finance and Maintenance provides
$271,000 for maintenance of the numerous properties of the Bermuda Police Servi ce. Included are the police
barracks located in Prospect, Somerset Police Station
and Southside Police Station, as well as various offices
located at our Prospect site. But the bulk of the budget ,
$904,220, covers salaries for 11 full -time equivalents
as found on page B -276. Staff under this budget are
responsible for BPS payroll, vendor and other pay-ments, stores and facilities. In addition, there is a provision of $100,000 for the securing of overseas witnesses.
304 5 June 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda Senate Programme 0703, Operational Policing Division
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, programme 0703 previously consisted of four separate departments. The departments were merged under one cohesive unit in the 2024/25 financial year under the
title Community Policing Unit. Funding for this unit is set
at $2,216,000. This on page B -274. [ There is] funding
of $1,005,000 in salaries for the 17 full -time equivalents
who support the Bermuda Police Service officers in
their policing duties. The unit pays for the cost of station duty officers (SDOs) who whilst civilian, provide critical
support for officers.
In addition, the budget funds rent and associated costs of $264,000 for the Southside Police Station
as well as cleaning services and various other costs incurred with running offices for the department.
Programme 0704, Operational Support Division
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, Operational Support Division provides funding for the following departments:
• 17090—Court Liaison Unit
• 17120—Technical Operations
• 17130—Garage and Workshop
• 17160—Forensic Support
The total budget for this programme is
$3,523,000, an increase of $218,000, or 7 per cent.
Madam Chairman, while personnel for policing
are important so are our operational vehicles which are
on Bermuda’s roads 24/7. The cost of which is funded
under 17130, Garage and Workshop, in the amount of
$1,524,000, an increase of $176,000, or 13 per cent
year over year. The increase is necessary to fund increasing costs for vehicle parts.
Cost centre 17130, Garage and Workshop includes wages and salaries for garage mechanics, and the fleet manager, as well as $774,000 for inventory,
spare parts, fuel, and insurance for the Bermuda Police
Service fleet. The budget for garage and workshop represents 43 per cent of the total budget under the Operational Support Division.
Programme 0708, Serious Crime Divisions
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the Serious Crime Divisions includes the following departments:
• 17140— Serious Crime Units
• 17150—Drugs and Financial Crime Department
• 17170—Intelligence Division
The Police Support Unit as shown on page B -
274 is now incorporated under programme 0703 which
is why there is a zero balance shown for this unit. The budget for programme 0708 is $2,460,000, an increase
of $36,000, or 1 per cent year over year. Madam [Chairman] , within the Serious Crime
Division lies the Serious Crime Unit [SCU] with a
budget of $1,077,000, which represents 44 per cent of
the total SCU budget. Prominent in the Serious Crime Unit are costs for overseas consultants at $683,000. These consultants are a critical part of the BPS, providing skilled and experienced investigators who assist
both Intelligence and Financial Crime Units, as well as
Forensics Support Officers who deliver essential crime
scene response services. These highly s killed professionals are required because they bring capacity, capability and specialised expertise not locally available.
Their contribution ensures that BPS maintains operational effectiveness in complex investigations and serious cases while meeting int ernational standards of evidence collection and analysis.
0710, Bermuda Reserve Police
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman , 0710,
Bermuda Reserve Police with a budget of $282,000.
The budget primarily funds bounty payments and associated costs for Bermuda’s Reserve Police Officers.
Revenue Overview
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, r evenue
shown on page B -275 for the Bermuda Police Service
consists of income from
• 8457, general licences;
• 8521, firearms licences ;
• 8523, licences for the use of explosives;
• 8525, security guard fees;
• 8617, publications; and
• 8801, facilities.
The BPS is responsible for the provision of firearm and explosive licences on Island. In addition, the
BPS reviews and approves licences to the various se-curity guard services. The BPS also provides barrack
housing facilities at a nominal cost at the Prospect location. With our active recruiting efforts dur ing the last
two years the availability of such housing is critical as a benefit and incentive for new officers. In addition, the
BPS provides fingerprinting services, police and traffic
reports for the public. Because the BPS is not considered (nor should they be) a revenue generator, money earned from these sources are nominal. Therefore, the
impact of such revenue is presumed unchanged from
the prior year at $698,000.
Subjective Analysis
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: The Subjective Analysis of
current account estimates of [Head] 7 is found on page
B-275. I will highlight the material changes year over
year.
Madam Chairman, with a projected budget of
$69,769,000, Salaries and Wages represent s 79 per
cent of the Bermuda Police Service budget. The budget
Bermuda Senate for salaries is $54,860,000, an increase of 9 per cent.
The budget for wages is $646,000, an increase of 5 per
cent. The funding is for 482 full -time equivalents comprised of 410 officers and 72 civilian staff, as shown on
page B -276. The increase for salaries and wages is a
result of recently negotiated salary uplifts.
Madam Chairman, repair and maintenance is
budgeted at $2,390,000, an increase of $101,000. The
increase is for additional funding required to repair and
maintain various Bermuda Police Service properties
throughout the Island. With the ageing buildings and in-creased repair costs, it was necessary to increase their
budget.
Madam Chairman , materials and supplies
have increased from $1,912,000 to $2,057,000. The increase of $145,000 is because of increasing costs for
vehicle parts and the costs of outsourcing the mainte-nance of some vehicles, otherwise there were no
changes.
Capital Expenditure
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Capital development costs.
Madam Chairman, as shown on page C -7, the Bermuda Government is funding various capital projects
for the Bermuda Police Service in the 2025/26 financial
year. Most importantly, the Government has provided
$2,000,000 for renovations to the old headquarters building in Pr ospect. It is the desire of the BPS to move
senior command and the Serious Crime Unit back to its base in Prospect. In so doing, the BPS can eliminate rent and associated costs at the Front Str eet location,
allowing the courts the use of the fifth floor of Hamilton Police Station and bring staff back to their original home. This is an ongoing, massive undertaking and is
projected to be finished in August 2026.
Capital Acquisition Costs
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the BPS
has been provided with $1,275,000 [ for capital acquisitions ] as shown on page C -15. Madam Chairman,
$300,000 has been provided to purchase new vehicles. As a 24/7 operation, BPS vehicles endure severe wear and tear and each year some must be replaced for
safety reasons. It is anticipated that the BPS will purchase nine new operational vehicles in the 2025/26 financial year.
In addition, the BPS has been funded
$900,000 to replace switches for its network. These switches are well beyond end of life and if not replaced
the service risks a complete shutdown of its information
systems. As stated earlier, today’s police service is
technology -driven and information systems are [ integral] to our operations . Therefore, the replacement of
these switches is critical to BPS operations.
Madam Chairman, the BPS has also been allocated $30,000 for the acquisition of computer equipment. And $45,000 for the replacement of ageing,
out-of-warranty, body armour.
Staffing
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: As previously mentioned, the
BPS has budgeted for 482 officers and staff [as noted
on] page B -276, for the 2025/26 for the 2025/26 financial year. This number consists of 410 officers and 72 civilian staff members. This represents an increase of
nine additional funded posts when compared to the original submission for the 2024/25 budget.
Service Initiatives
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the Bermuda Police Service has a strategic and operational plan for the period of 2021 to 2026 with five key priorities:
1. Reducing serious crime
2. Protecting vulnerable persons
3. Raising confidence in the police
4. Reducing harm on our roads
5. Developing digital policing
As we move toward the conclusion of this planning cycle, in 2025, the Bermuda Police Service will
begin a comprehensive internal and external consultative process to form our next five- year strategic plan.
This forward- looking initiative will gather insights from
officers, staff, community members, and partner agen-cies to shape our priorities and approaches for 2026 to
2031.
A key input to this process will be the findings
from the upcoming Security and Defence Review —a
Throne Speech initiative that examines what capabilities, capacities, services and resources the BPS needs
to best position itself to meet Bermuda's security n eeds
over the next 10 to 15 years. This review will help us align our future strategic planning with broader national
security considerations and ensure the BPS is prepared for emerging challenges.
The consultative process will be guided by our
commitment to community satisfaction and confidence,
ensuring that public input helps shape our future direction. By combining professional expertise with commu-nity voice, we aim to develop a strategic plan that builds
on our current achievements while adapting to evolving
security threats and community expectations.
Performance Measures
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, I am
pleased to report that the department’s forecast performance measures, which are shown on page B -277, for
fiscal year 2024/25 were achieved.
Public satisfaction with the Bermuda Police
Service represents the cornerstone of our performance framework. At 6.2 against our target of 6.0, this measure—independently assessed each quarter through
306 5 June 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda Senate comprehensive surveys —[transcends ] all other
measures for a fundamental reason: policing exists
only through the consent and support of our community. When citizens express satisfaction with our service, it signals their trust in our approach, their confi-dence in our abilities, and their w illingness to partner
with us in Making Bermuda Safer .
Traditional metrics like crime statistics, while
relevant, only tell part of the story. They measure what
we do, not how we do it. A police service can achieve
technical objectives yet fail in its primary mission if the public feels unheard, unfairly treat ed, or unsafe. These
independent quarterly measurements capture the people element of policing that no procedural measure can
quantify. Simply put, if the community is not satisfied
with their service, the BPS is failing, no matter what the
other numbers s uggest.
Policing Issues for 2025/26
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, like many
police services globally, the Bermuda Police Service
faces ongoing staffing considerations that require careful management. While the current staffing level of 382
officers presents challenges, we are pleased to report that funding is not an is sue and that we are making
great progress in increasing the number of police offic-ers in the Bermuda Police Service. For example, last year there were 360 officers, which means that we have
increased the number of officers by 22, or 6 per cent.
Madam Chairman, the BPS has implemented
several promising initiatives to address staffing needs
and as is shown in our increased numbers, these efforts are starting to bear fruit. I am pleased to report that the Bermuda Police Service passed out 22 new police
officers on 8 May 2025; and there are currently 14 new
cadets undergoing training who will be ready for de-ployment in September. Moreover, we began another
recruitment drive in April 2025 and after initial vetting
was completed, there are 139 applicant s still in the
pool. The next recruit foundation course is expected to graduate in March 2026, further bolstering the number
of officers in the ranks. Further, Madam Chairman, we
are on course to start another recruitment drive in June or July 2025.
Madam Chairman , local recruiting efforts have
re-doubled with the assistance of a government -led
cross- ministry recruiting initiative that is showing positive results. Additionally, the Government has ex-panded local recruiting opportunities to include resident non-Bermu dians, which will increase numbers and reduce demand [on] barrack accommodations as these
candidates are already housed within the community.
Once all local recruitment options have been
exhausted, overseas recruitment may become neces-sary. There is a strong commitment to take whatever steps are needed to ensure the Bermuda Police Service is sufficiently staffed to meet the Island's security
needs. These proactive measures will help address
expected retirements over the coming years while ensuring the Bermuda Police Service maintains appropriate staffing levels to fulfil its mandate of Making Bermuda Safer .
Madam Chairman, despite these staffing constraints, we face several significant public safety chal-lenges that require targeted action this fiscal year. The
scourge of gang and gun violence continues to impact
our community with concerning developments. We are
now witnes sing the first -generation gang member's
children coming of age and choosing to carry forward
their fathers' destructive legacy, often with greater levels of violence and disregard for community safety.
This intergenerational cycle demands ren ewed intervention strategies focused on at -risk youth to divert
them from this path. Knife crime is also rising at an alarming rate and addressing this trend will be a priority
for the Bermuda Police Service this year.
Domestic abuse remains a concern requiring
sensitive handling. We will continue the work already
started in partnership with other agencies to ensure
community members feel confident to report these sensitive matters. Our goal is to build more confidence i n
the police for victims to seek help while providing the
specialised response and support when they do come
forward.
Madam Chairman, the summer months will
bring additional challenges to community safety as residents and visitors socialise in larger numbers on
beaches, on the water, and within bars and restaurants.
These challenges include increased tensions between
rival gangs, antis ocial behaviour, and impaired driving.
The BPS will maintain an intelligence- led approach to
target the most violent and prolific harm- causers.
Additionally, vagrancy and its associated crime
continue to impact the look and feel of Bermuda, particularly in the City of Hamilton. Business owners lament lost revenue, intimidation, and concerns about the
safety of unaccompanied women. While the roots of
this complex social problem extend beyond policing
alone, the BPS remains committed to addressing reported crimes while working with our partners to pursue
longer -term solutions.
Each of these challenges requires not just enforcement action but community partnership and
trust—the foundation upon which effective policing is
built. Our independently assessed public satisfaction
rating of 6.2 reflects a measure of community confi-dence in our approaches to these issues, but we recognise there is always room for improvement. We will
continue to ensure our responses are visible, effective,
and build public trust across all communities, even as
we work to address our critical staffing needs.
2024/25 Accomplishments
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman , I will now
provide this Honourable House with some sobering
Bermuda Senate statistics on what the Bermuda Police Service dealt
with over the calendar year (January through December 2024).
Madam Chairman, in Making Bermuda Safer ,
between January and December 2024, the Bermuda Police Service responded to approximately 12,700
events/incidents. Included in that figure, the BPS responded to an average of twenty -five 911 calls every
day.
Madam Chairman, there were 1,853 arrests
during the period. Notably 201 involved the arrest of an
impaired driver, with some drivers being double, treble
or even more than four times over the limit (389 was
the highest DUI in 2024).
Madam Chairman, 3,719 crimes were recorded and investigated, including nine murders, four of
which were committed using a firearm, and five of which were committed using a knife. Of note, there was
a knife- related triple homicide.
Madam Chairman, the BPS dealt with 1,461
road traffic collisions of which seven were fatalities and
128 involved serious injury. In the last 10 years, 109
persons have died on our roads and 1,040 have been
seriously injured.
Madam Chairman, 6,942 traffic tickets were issued, with 1,718 tickets issued for speed. Of note is that
393 of the speeding tickets were issued for persons
driving 70 kilometres per hour , or more than double the
speed limit.
Madam Chairman, Stop and Search is a powerful tool that allows police officers to stop, question, and if required, search persons for weapons. The tool
is used proportionately, as and when tensions, particularly gang tensions, increase. The Bermuda Police Ser-vice issued 1,066 Stop and Search forms to reduce opportunities for violence.
Madam Chairman, despite these challenges,
we should remain optimistic about the future of policing
in Bermuda. Our women and men work with dedication
and integrity every day to serve this community. The
trust placed in them—reflected in the independently
measured satisf action rating—is something we value
and strive to strengthen with every interaction. We know that public confidence is not just a metric; it is the foundation that enables everything they do. As they
move forward with the plans and incentives outlined today, they do so with a firm commitment to transparency, accountability, and genuine partnership with the
people of Bermuda. When the community and police stand together, we create not just a safer Bermuda, but a stronger one.
Madam Chairman, that ends my presentation
on Head 9 [sic], Bermuda Police Service. I shall now
move on to Head 88, Bermuda National Drug Control.
The Chairman Chairman
Sorry, Senator Simmons, I believe that was Head 7. You said Head 9. Sen. Lindsay Simmons: I apologise if I said Head 9. Head 7.
The Chairman Chairman
Yes. And just for a time check we are at 2:27 pm and the time to finish this debate will be at three o’clock. Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Thank you. HEAD 88 —NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, it gives me great pleasure to present the budget for Head …
Yes. And just for a time check we are
at 2:27 pm and the time to finish this debate will be at
three o’clock.
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Thank you.
HEAD 88 —NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, it gives
me great pleasure to present the budget for Head 88,
the Department for National Drug Control, found on pages B -285 through B -289 of the Budget Book.
Mandate or Mission
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the mandate of the Department for National Drug Control is to, Lead efforts to reduce the negative impact of drug misuse/abuse on children, families and the community.
Expenditure Overview
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Our Expenditure Overview is
on page B -285. Madam Chairman, a total of
$5,035,000 has been allocated for this head, which rep-resents an increase of $981,200 from the previous
year, and constitutes 4 per cent of the budget allocated
for the Ministry as a whole.
The total current expenditure is estimated to be
$5,035,315 for 2025/26 and represents an increase of
$981,200, or approximately 24 per cent, higher than
the budget of 2024/25. This increase is due primarily to
increases in salaries, the addition of overtime, increased grant allocations and an increase in the general cost of living for operating costs.
Subjective Analysis
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: The Subjective Analysis of
current account estimates of the Department for Na-tional Drug Control is found on page B -285. I will highlight the material object code increases and decreases
as per business unit.
Business Unit 98000, Administration
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, Administration is found on page B -285— 2024/25 versus
2025/26. Original estimate for 2024/25 is $901,000.
The estimate for 2025/26 is $1,317,000. The increase
is $416,000, or 46 per cent.
Madam Chairman, the Administration allocation of $1,317,000 is a 46 per cent increase from the
2024/25 allocation. The increase is due mainly to an increase in grant allocations by $100,000 and various
308 5 June 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda Senate increases in operating costs by $316,000, including the
negotiated salary uplifts.
The Administration budget covers employee
salaries for two staff and other operational expenses
([such as: ] facilities, utilities, maintenance costs, supplies and training). And the following grants of
$100,000 for Salvation Army Harbour Light and Community Life Skills programme; $ [169,000] for Shift (formerly PRIDE); $330,000 for Focus Counselling Ser-vices; and $150,000 for Pathways Bermuda. Madam
Chairman, see page C -21, Grants and Contributions.
Business Unit 98010, Community Development
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Community Development is
found on page B -285—2024 /25 versus 2025/26. Original estimate for 2024/25 is $229,000. The estimate for 2025/26 is $233,000, an increase of $4,000, which is a
2 per cent increase.
Madam Chairman, the allocation to Community
Development, business unit 98010, is $233,000, which
is a 2 per cent, or a $4,000 increase from the 2024/25
allocation. The increase is related to negotiated salary
uplifts for one staff.
Funding is allocated to facilitate activities that
are primarily targeted towards public education, community development, information dissemination and to
support a grant of $60,000 to the Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse (CADA) to support alcohol awareness
and to provide TIPS Training. (See page C -21 Grants
and Contributions.)
Business Unit 98020, Prevention Unit
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Prevention Unit found on
page B -285— 2023/24 versus 2024/25— I apologise.
That should say 2024/25 versus 2025/26. The original
estimate for 2024/25 is $241,000. The estimate for
2025/26 is $247,000. This is an increase of $7,000, or
2 per cent.
Madam Chairman, an allocation of $247,000 is
provided to support the Prevention Unit efforts in business unit 98020. This is a $6,000 increase in the allocation from 2024/25 due to the negotiated salary uplift for one staff.
Funds in this business unit are utilised to improve coverage of drug prevention measures within the community, to improve opportunities for school -based
prevention interventions, and to increase access for young people to targeted prevention programmes. Funding is also utilised to support training of Prevention
professionals and community members to support drug
prevention efforts.
Business Unit 98030, Treatment Unit
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: The Treatment Unit is found
on page B -285— 2024/25 versus 2025/26. The original
estimate for 2024/25 is $345,000. The estimate for 2025/26 is $419,000. This is an increase of $65,000,
which is an 18 per cent increase.
Madam Chairman, the Treatment Unit, business unit 98030, is allocated $419,000 in fiscal year
2025/26. This is an increase of $65,000, or 18 per cent.
The increase is related to salary uplifts for two staff and
an increase in operational costs including promotions,
food supplies and rental costs related to professional
training and events.
Madam Chairman, the Treatment Unit funding
allocation is used to facilitate the implementation of key activities geared towards achieving the goals of the National Treatment Strategy, including Commission on
Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities [CARF ] accreditation fees and resources, addiction specific train-ing; Recovery Month (which is in September) activities;
and the AccuCare, web- based client management system licences and training. Funds are also allocated to
support the grant for the Bermuda Addiction Certification Board (BACB) at the cost of $80,000. (See page
C-21, Grants and Contributions.)
Business Unit 98050, Research and Policy
Development Unit
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: The Research and Policy
Development Unit is found on page B -285— 2024/25
versus 2025/26. The original estimate for 2024/25 is $271,000. The estimate for 2025/26 is $326,000. This
is an increase of $55,000, which is a 20 per cent increase.
The Research and Policy Development Unit,
business unit 98050, has an allocation of $326,000,
which is a 20 per cent, or $55,000 increase, from the
previous fiscal year. The increase is due to negotiated
salary uplifts for two staff, funding assigned to support
the implementation of required National Surveys, and
the evaluation/needs assessments related to the N ational Drug Control Masterplan.
Madam Chairman, funding in this cost code is
used to facilitate information gathering and analysis, monitoring and evaluation, as well as any relevant legislation and policy development initiatives prioritised
within the department and/or Ministry.
Business Unit 98060, Men’s Treatment Programme
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: The Men’s Treatment Programme is found on page B -285—2024/25 versus
2025/26. The original estimate for 2024/25 is $911,000. The estimate for 2025/26 is $1,138,000. This is an increase of $227,000, or 25 per cent.
Madam Chairman , the Men’s Treatment programme, business unit 98060, on page B -285, was allocated $1,138,000, an increase of $227,000, or 25 per
cent, from the previous fiscal year. The increase is related to salary uplifts for eight clinical staff. Overtime
related to operations of a 24- hour programme and
Bermuda Senate overall cost of living operating costs for food, electricity,
et cetera.
Madam Chairman, the funding allocation for
Men’s Treatment provides the operational and staffing
cost required to provide services to meet the treat-ment/rehabilitative needs and goals of adult males
needing residential treatment at the Nelson Bascome
Substance Abuse Tre atment Facility.
Business Unit 98070, Women’s Treatment Centre
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: The Women’s Treatment
Centre is found on page B -285— 2024/25 versus
2025/26. The original estimate for 2024/25 is $1,145,000. The estimate for 2025/26 is $1,355,000.
This is an increase of $208,000, or 18 per cent.
Madam Chairman , the Women’s Treatment
Centre, business unit 98070, has been allocated
$1,355,000 for the 2025/26 fiscal year. This represents a $208,000, or 18 per cent, increase from fiscal year
2024/25. This increase relates to salary uplifts for eight
clinical staff as well as the salaries for the administrative assistant, residential cook and maintenance person, servicing both the Women’s and Men’s Programmes .
The increase also includes funding for overtime related to the operation of a 24- hour programme
and overall cost of living operating costs for food, elec-tricity, et cetera. The funding allocation provided is utilised to meet the treatment and support needs of women in residential substance abuse treatment along with rent for the Supportive Residence paid by the Department of National Drug Control [DNDC] to the Department of Public Works in the amount of $60,000 per [annum] .
The Women’s Treatment Centre provides both
residential treatment for women at the Nelson Bas-come Substance Abuse Treatment Centre as well as
supportive residency at a separate site. The Women’s
Treatment Centre is the only residential treatment facility fo r Women in Bermuda.
Business Unit 98080, National Drug Control
Master Plan
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: The National Drug Control
Master Plan is found on page B -285— 2024/25 versus
2025/26. The original estimate for 2024/25 is zero. The estimate for 2025/26 is zero. There is no change in the
dollar amount and no change in the percentage.
Madam Chairman, business unit 98080 is in
place to provide for the effective implementation of the
National Drug Control Master Plan; cross -ministry initiatives with the Police, Customs and Corrections; evaluation of the Master Plan and to encourage cooperation and invo lvement of other Government Departments and civil society in the implementation of the
Master Plan initiatives. This business unit has not been
allocated any funding in financial year 2025/26. The Department of National Drug Control is required by the National Drug Control Act 2013 to “oversee the implementation of the action plan and monitor
and evaluate the performance of the plan.” Without
funding and high- level support, it is extremely chall enging to implement and monitor the action plans and
achieve the goals of the National Plan as legislated.
Previous funding in this cost code was utilised
to support the development of services identified as
gaps and priorities and to provide critical training for the
Government Laboratory, Police and Customs staff to enhance their mandates; for example, fentanyl and its
handling; the purchase and training of K9 dogs for Corrections and Customs; and attendance of Customs officer to the ACAMS Conference to support NAMLC obligations.
Funding was also previously provided to complete the evaluation and needs assessments for the
National Drug Control Master Plan and to support media campaigns to highlight the outcomes of the National
Plan. Without this funding the added support to supply
and demand reduction agencies is depleted and the
development of new initiatives cannot be supported.
Capital Expenditure
Lindsay Simmons: Capital Expenditure is on page C -
15. Madam Chairman, i n fiscal year 2024/25, the Department of National Drug Control was provided with
$3,000 to upgrade the security system in the main office. This was completed.
In fiscal year 2025/26, the Department of National Drug Control has been provided with $10,000 to upgrade the data management system used to support
the implementation of national surveys and the Bermuda Drug Information Network (BerDIN) by our Research Unit.
Manpower
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the department employs 27 staff. The Department Headquar-ters is presently staffed by a Director, five Technical Officers and one full -time Administrative staff.
Direct staffing support to the Nelson Bascome
Substance Abuse Treatment Facility is provided by one
Treatment Coordinator that oversees both the Male
and Female Residential Treatment Programmes along
with 16 clinical staff (Clinical Coordinators, Addictio n
Counsellors, Junior Addiction Counsellors and Addiction Counsellor Technicians) and three support staff,
(Administrative Assistant, Cook and Maintenance) currently assigned to the Women’s Treatment Centre and
Men’s Treatment Programme.
There are currently three vacancies within the
Men’s Treatment Programme (Clinical Coordinator, Addiction Counsellor and Addiction Treatment Support
Worker). The Addiction Counsellor and Support Worker
are in active recruitment; the Clinical Coordinator post
310 5 June 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda Senate is due to be filled in the 2025/26 fiscal year. There are
three vacancies within the Women’s Treatment Programme (Addiction Counsellor, Junior Addiction Counsellor and Addiction Treatment Support Worker) due to
be filled in the 2025/26 fiscal year; one vac ancy in the
Head Office (Treatment Coordinator) will be recruited
in the 2025/26 fiscal year.
Performance Measures by Business Unit
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, I am
pleased to report that the department’s forecast performance measures for fiscal year 2024/25 were achieved
in the majority of funded cost codes. Some initiatives
were unable to be completed due to staff vacancies.
The performance measures for the Department for National Drug Control are listed on pages B -288 and B -
289.
Business Unit 98000, Administration
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Business unit 98000, Administration, provides the organisational framework in support of the mission and mandate of the Department of
National Drug Control. Its resources are aimed primar-ily at recurrent expenditures, and grants and contributions to the t reatment and prevention partners that provide services for, and on behalf of, the department.
Madam Chairman, 100 per cent of financial transactions were completed in E1 within Financial Instructions for the year 2024/25, and 100 per cent of performance
appraisals were completed for the 2024/25 period.
As a result of supplemental funding in 2024/25,
Madam Chairman, six grants were disbursed com-pared to the five disbursed in 2023/24. The Department
for National Drug Control is established, in part as a service delivery unit, but cannot provide all of the needed services required within the community and depends heavily on acquiring services in the treatment
and prevention areas through grant allocations to realise its mandate. Shift, (which was formerly PRIDE)
CADA, Salvation Army Harbour Light and Communi ty
LifeSkills [Training] Programme, Focus Counselling Services, Pathways Bermuda and the Bermuda Addic-tion Certification Board (BACB) all received grants and
provided required services as per their grant agreements during the 2024/25 fiscal year.
Madam Chairman, Shift, formerly known as
PRIDE, provides evidenced- based life skills programming within five of the public primary schools to support
drug education and drug prevention activities. In
2024/25, Shift received $119,000. This level of funding
created major challenges with their ability to retain staff
and facilitate their programming in the schools. Shift will
be granted $169,000 for fiscal year [2025/26], a 42 per
cent increase from fiscal year 2024/25 with the goal of
increasing their reach for programming in more schools
and restoring programme facilitator levels. The Salvation Army received $50,000 for the
Harbour Light and life skills programmes in fiscal year
2024/25. This funding level challenged their ability to
hire needed staff and their ability to provide their programmes effectively. Harbour Light and the l ife skills
[programmes] will receive a grant in the amount of
$100,000 in fiscal year 2025/26, a 100 per cent increase, to continue to provide residential drug treatment and community life skills programming for 10
males and hire needed staff.
Madam Chairman, Focus Counselling Service
provides transitional/supportive housing for up to 28 recovering males. These individual adult males have participated in primary drug treatment at other treatment
facilities (such as the prison, hospital, inpatient or outpatient services) and require assistance in re- integrating back into the community. The goal is to return participants back to the community as productive citizens,
thus improving the number of individuals maintaining a
drug free lifestyle. Focus C ounselling Services received $180,000 initially in fiscal year 2024/25. An ad-ditional $150,000 was awarded as a supplemental
bringing their grant to $330,000. Focus Counselling
Services will receive the same level grant of $330,000
in fiscal year 2025/26.
Pathways Bermuda provides outpatient substance abuse treatment and aftercare services within the community, servicing approximately 81 individuals.
Pathways received $150,000 as part of the supplemental funds awarded in fiscal year 2024/25 and will
receive a grant of the same level, $150,000 in fiscal
year 2025/26 to enhance their services and hiring of a Clinical Supervisor.
Madam Chairman, CADA works in collaboration with the Department for National Drug Control to
provide community education on alcohol misuse, as
well as to provide the server training programme (TIPS)
which is mandated within the Liquor Licence Act 1974,
as amended in 2011. A grant of $60,000 was provided
to CADA in fiscal year 2024/25, which mainly supports
the implementation of the TIPS programme.
CADA will receive the same level funding of
$60,000 in fiscal year 2025/26 to support these activities. Grant funding of $80,000 was provided to the Bermuda Addiction Certification Board (BACB) in fiscal year 2024/25. The Bermuda Addiction Certification
Board provides international certification testing for
both prevention and treatment professionals locally;
funding also supports addiction- specific training to enhance workforce development in this [specialty] area
on the Island; supports re- certification o f professionals
and helps to maintain membership in the International
Certification and Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC). Certification is required for registration of Addiction Counsellors to practice under the Allied Health Professions
Act 1973. There are currently 56 certified and registered Addiction Counsellors (an increase of seven from
the previous year); 12 of the Addiction Counsellors are
also certified Clinical Supervisors, (an increase of one
Bermuda Senate from the previous year) and there are two Prevention
Specialists, which is a total of 58 certified addiction professionals working in Bermuda. There are also five Associate Alcohol and Drug Counsellors holding that
[designation] under the board. BACB will receive the same level grant of $80,000 for fiscal year 2025/26 to
continue their work.
The highlighted agencies have provided an integral part of the drug prevention and drug treatment
continuum of services for Bermuda for many decades
in collaboration with the Department for National Drug Control. (See page C -21 Grants and Contributions.)
Business Unit 98010, Community Development
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the goal
of this unit is to educate the public about the harms of alcohol and drug use, to ensure the provision of clear
and sustained messages to our young people that no
use of alcohol, cannabis, tobacco or other drugs is acceptable. And to involve families, schools and community organisations in alcohol/drug prevention efforts.
Other initiatives for the Community Development unit are to assist in highlighting drunk/drug driving
and road safety initiatives through public education and to continue awareness campaigns directed at underage drinking, adolescent drug use (which is alcohol and
cannabis) and emerging drugs, such as fentanyl and synthetic drugs, edibles and vaping.
Throughout the 2024/25 fiscal year, the Department of National Drug Control Prevention Team
collaborated with the Department of Education to bring
awareness and education on the harms of vaping to
both high schools and middle schools in the public and private sectors through web- based presentations and
training with overseas specialists. A total of five training events for students and teachers were held. Two multimedia campaigns were focused on vaping and cannabis with ads occurring on radio, television and on the
Internet targeting the adolescent population.
Grassroots activities included work with the
Court Street Market Community group festival, participation in health booths at [both] senior schools and the
City of Hamilton.
Business Unit 98020, Prevention
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the Prevention Unit is responsible for providing drug prevention programmes for schools and the wider community
with the goal of stopping use before it starts.
The Prevention Unit facilitates the implementation and integration of the Al’s Pals programme at the pre-school level at all public schools and one private
school. Al’s Pals is an early childhood curriculum and teacher programme that promotes resiliency at the
early childhood stage with explicit instruction to develop
social competence, autonomy and problem solving.
The DNDC supports the Al’s Pals programme within schools by funding initial teacher training, refresher
courses and by providing resources/supplies for all educators implementing the programme at a cost of approximately $15,000 per year. Approximately 296 students have participated in the programme from the pre -
school level in the public schools, an 8 per cent increase from last year and 48 in the private schools (a
total of 344 students). Currently there are 42 teachers
trained and providing the Al’s Pals programme.
Madam Chairman, the unit also provides the
Teen Peace programme that supports three public schools for P7 and M1 school -age children as an afterschool programme. Currently there are 50 students
participating in the Teen Peace programmes, a decrease of 15 f rom the previous fiscal year due to the
closing of one middle school. The programme allows students to be interactive with positive, prosocial adults and affords them the opportunity to further develop, operationalise and practice social -emotional learning
skills at a vital stage when children are transitioning developmentally, cognitively and emotionally.
The DNDC hires and trains facilitators for this
programme as well as provides all supplies and resources. Teachers facilitating have received the Bot-vin’s LifeSkills training, which a research- validated substance abuse prevention programme proven to reduce the risks of alcohol, tobacco, drug abuse, and violence. The programme targets the major social and psychological factors that promote the initiation of substance
use and other risky antisocial behaviours. There are six
trained facilitators —
at 2:27 pm and the time to finish this debate will be at
three o’clock.
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Thank you.
HEAD 88 —NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, it gives
me great pleasure to present the budget for Head 88,
the Department for National Drug Control, found on pages B -285 through B -289 of the Budget Book.
Mandate or Mission
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the mandate of the Department for National Drug Control is to, Lead efforts to reduce the negative impact of drug misuse/abuse on children, families and the community.
Expenditure Overview
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Our Expenditure Overview is
on page B -285. Madam Chairman, a total of
$5,035,000 has been allocated for this head, which rep-resents an increase of $981,200 from the previous
year, and constitutes 4 per cent of the budget allocated
for the Ministry as a whole.
The total current expenditure is estimated to be
$5,035,315 for 2025/26 and represents an increase of
$981,200, or approximately 24 per cent, higher than
the budget of 2024/25. This increase is due primarily to
increases in salaries, the addition of overtime, increased grant allocations and an increase in the general cost of living for operating costs.
Subjective Analysis
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: The Subjective Analysis of
current account estimates of the Department for Na-tional Drug Control is found on page B -285. I will highlight the material object code increases and decreases
as per business unit.
Business Unit 98000, Administration
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, Administration is found on page B -285— 2024/25 versus
2025/26. Original estimate for 2024/25 is $901,000.
The estimate for 2025/26 is $1,317,000. The increase
is $416,000, or 46 per cent.
Madam Chairman, the Administration allocation of $1,317,000 is a 46 per cent increase from the
2024/25 allocation. The increase is due mainly to an increase in grant allocations by $100,000 and various
308 5 June 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda Senate increases in operating costs by $316,000, including the
negotiated salary uplifts.
The Administration budget covers employee
salaries for two staff and other operational expenses
([such as: ] facilities, utilities, maintenance costs, supplies and training). And the following grants of
$100,000 for Salvation Army Harbour Light and Community Life Skills programme; $ [169,000] for Shift (formerly PRIDE); $330,000 for Focus Counselling Ser-vices; and $150,000 for Pathways Bermuda. Madam
Chairman, see page C -21, Grants and Contributions.
Business Unit 98010, Community Development
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Community Development is
found on page B -285—2024 /25 versus 2025/26. Original estimate for 2024/25 is $229,000. The estimate for 2025/26 is $233,000, an increase of $4,000, which is a
2 per cent increase.
Madam Chairman, the allocation to Community
Development, business unit 98010, is $233,000, which
is a 2 per cent, or a $4,000 increase from the 2024/25
allocation. The increase is related to negotiated salary
uplifts for one staff.
Funding is allocated to facilitate activities that
are primarily targeted towards public education, community development, information dissemination and to
support a grant of $60,000 to the Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse (CADA) to support alcohol awareness
and to provide TIPS Training. (See page C -21 Grants
and Contributions.)
Business Unit 98020, Prevention Unit
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Prevention Unit found on
page B -285— 2023/24 versus 2024/25— I apologise.
That should say 2024/25 versus 2025/26. The original
estimate for 2024/25 is $241,000. The estimate for
2025/26 is $247,000. This is an increase of $7,000, or
2 per cent.
Madam Chairman, an allocation of $247,000 is
provided to support the Prevention Unit efforts in business unit 98020. This is a $6,000 increase in the allocation from 2024/25 due to the negotiated salary uplift for one staff.
Funds in this business unit are utilised to improve coverage of drug prevention measures within the community, to improve opportunities for school -based
prevention interventions, and to increase access for young people to targeted prevention programmes. Funding is also utilised to support training of Prevention
professionals and community members to support drug
prevention efforts.
Business Unit 98030, Treatment Unit
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: The Treatment Unit is found
on page B -285— 2024/25 versus 2025/26. The original
estimate for 2024/25 is $345,000. The estimate for 2025/26 is $419,000. This is an increase of $65,000,
which is an 18 per cent increase.
Madam Chairman, the Treatment Unit, business unit 98030, is allocated $419,000 in fiscal year
2025/26. This is an increase of $65,000, or 18 per cent.
The increase is related to salary uplifts for two staff and
an increase in operational costs including promotions,
food supplies and rental costs related to professional
training and events.
Madam Chairman, the Treatment Unit funding
allocation is used to facilitate the implementation of key activities geared towards achieving the goals of the National Treatment Strategy, including Commission on
Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities [CARF ] accreditation fees and resources, addiction specific train-ing; Recovery Month (which is in September) activities;
and the AccuCare, web- based client management system licences and training. Funds are also allocated to
support the grant for the Bermuda Addiction Certification Board (BACB) at the cost of $80,000. (See page
C-21, Grants and Contributions.)
Business Unit 98050, Research and Policy
Development Unit
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: The Research and Policy
Development Unit is found on page B -285— 2024/25
versus 2025/26. The original estimate for 2024/25 is $271,000. The estimate for 2025/26 is $326,000. This
is an increase of $55,000, which is a 20 per cent increase.
The Research and Policy Development Unit,
business unit 98050, has an allocation of $326,000,
which is a 20 per cent, or $55,000 increase, from the
previous fiscal year. The increase is due to negotiated
salary uplifts for two staff, funding assigned to support
the implementation of required National Surveys, and
the evaluation/needs assessments related to the N ational Drug Control Masterplan.
Madam Chairman, funding in this cost code is
used to facilitate information gathering and analysis, monitoring and evaluation, as well as any relevant legislation and policy development initiatives prioritised
within the department and/or Ministry.
Business Unit 98060, Men’s Treatment Programme
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: The Men’s Treatment Programme is found on page B -285—2024/25 versus
2025/26. The original estimate for 2024/25 is $911,000. The estimate for 2025/26 is $1,138,000. This is an increase of $227,000, or 25 per cent.
Madam Chairman , the Men’s Treatment programme, business unit 98060, on page B -285, was allocated $1,138,000, an increase of $227,000, or 25 per
cent, from the previous fiscal year. The increase is related to salary uplifts for eight clinical staff. Overtime
related to operations of a 24- hour programme and
Bermuda Senate overall cost of living operating costs for food, electricity,
et cetera.
Madam Chairman, the funding allocation for
Men’s Treatment provides the operational and staffing
cost required to provide services to meet the treat-ment/rehabilitative needs and goals of adult males
needing residential treatment at the Nelson Bascome
Substance Abuse Tre atment Facility.
Business Unit 98070, Women’s Treatment Centre
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: The Women’s Treatment
Centre is found on page B -285— 2024/25 versus
2025/26. The original estimate for 2024/25 is $1,145,000. The estimate for 2025/26 is $1,355,000.
This is an increase of $208,000, or 18 per cent.
Madam Chairman , the Women’s Treatment
Centre, business unit 98070, has been allocated
$1,355,000 for the 2025/26 fiscal year. This represents a $208,000, or 18 per cent, increase from fiscal year
2024/25. This increase relates to salary uplifts for eight
clinical staff as well as the salaries for the administrative assistant, residential cook and maintenance person, servicing both the Women’s and Men’s Programmes .
The increase also includes funding for overtime related to the operation of a 24- hour programme
and overall cost of living operating costs for food, elec-tricity, et cetera. The funding allocation provided is utilised to meet the treatment and support needs of women in residential substance abuse treatment along with rent for the Supportive Residence paid by the Department of National Drug Control [DNDC] to the Department of Public Works in the amount of $60,000 per [annum] .
The Women’s Treatment Centre provides both
residential treatment for women at the Nelson Bas-come Substance Abuse Treatment Centre as well as
supportive residency at a separate site. The Women’s
Treatment Centre is the only residential treatment facility fo r Women in Bermuda.
Business Unit 98080, National Drug Control
Master Plan
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: The National Drug Control
Master Plan is found on page B -285— 2024/25 versus
2025/26. The original estimate for 2024/25 is zero. The estimate for 2025/26 is zero. There is no change in the
dollar amount and no change in the percentage.
Madam Chairman, business unit 98080 is in
place to provide for the effective implementation of the
National Drug Control Master Plan; cross -ministry initiatives with the Police, Customs and Corrections; evaluation of the Master Plan and to encourage cooperation and invo lvement of other Government Departments and civil society in the implementation of the
Master Plan initiatives. This business unit has not been
allocated any funding in financial year 2025/26. The Department of National Drug Control is required by the National Drug Control Act 2013 to “oversee the implementation of the action plan and monitor
and evaluate the performance of the plan.” Without
funding and high- level support, it is extremely chall enging to implement and monitor the action plans and
achieve the goals of the National Plan as legislated.
Previous funding in this cost code was utilised
to support the development of services identified as
gaps and priorities and to provide critical training for the
Government Laboratory, Police and Customs staff to enhance their mandates; for example, fentanyl and its
handling; the purchase and training of K9 dogs for Corrections and Customs; and attendance of Customs officer to the ACAMS Conference to support NAMLC obligations.
Funding was also previously provided to complete the evaluation and needs assessments for the
National Drug Control Master Plan and to support media campaigns to highlight the outcomes of the National
Plan. Without this funding the added support to supply
and demand reduction agencies is depleted and the
development of new initiatives cannot be supported.
Capital Expenditure
Lindsay Simmons: Capital Expenditure is on page C -
15. Madam Chairman, i n fiscal year 2024/25, the Department of National Drug Control was provided with
$3,000 to upgrade the security system in the main office. This was completed.
In fiscal year 2025/26, the Department of National Drug Control has been provided with $10,000 to upgrade the data management system used to support
the implementation of national surveys and the Bermuda Drug Information Network (BerDIN) by our Research Unit.
Manpower
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the department employs 27 staff. The Department Headquar-ters is presently staffed by a Director, five Technical Officers and one full -time Administrative staff.
Direct staffing support to the Nelson Bascome
Substance Abuse Treatment Facility is provided by one
Treatment Coordinator that oversees both the Male
and Female Residential Treatment Programmes along
with 16 clinical staff (Clinical Coordinators, Addictio n
Counsellors, Junior Addiction Counsellors and Addiction Counsellor Technicians) and three support staff,
(Administrative Assistant, Cook and Maintenance) currently assigned to the Women’s Treatment Centre and
Men’s Treatment Programme.
There are currently three vacancies within the
Men’s Treatment Programme (Clinical Coordinator, Addiction Counsellor and Addiction Treatment Support
Worker). The Addiction Counsellor and Support Worker
are in active recruitment; the Clinical Coordinator post
310 5 June 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda Senate is due to be filled in the 2025/26 fiscal year. There are
three vacancies within the Women’s Treatment Programme (Addiction Counsellor, Junior Addiction Counsellor and Addiction Treatment Support Worker) due to
be filled in the 2025/26 fiscal year; one vac ancy in the
Head Office (Treatment Coordinator) will be recruited
in the 2025/26 fiscal year.
Performance Measures by Business Unit
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, I am
pleased to report that the department’s forecast performance measures for fiscal year 2024/25 were achieved
in the majority of funded cost codes. Some initiatives
were unable to be completed due to staff vacancies.
The performance measures for the Department for National Drug Control are listed on pages B -288 and B -
289.
Business Unit 98000, Administration
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Business unit 98000, Administration, provides the organisational framework in support of the mission and mandate of the Department of
National Drug Control. Its resources are aimed primar-ily at recurrent expenditures, and grants and contributions to the t reatment and prevention partners that provide services for, and on behalf of, the department.
Madam Chairman, 100 per cent of financial transactions were completed in E1 within Financial Instructions for the year 2024/25, and 100 per cent of performance
appraisals were completed for the 2024/25 period.
As a result of supplemental funding in 2024/25,
Madam Chairman, six grants were disbursed com-pared to the five disbursed in 2023/24. The Department
for National Drug Control is established, in part as a service delivery unit, but cannot provide all of the needed services required within the community and depends heavily on acquiring services in the treatment
and prevention areas through grant allocations to realise its mandate. Shift, (which was formerly PRIDE)
CADA, Salvation Army Harbour Light and Communi ty
LifeSkills [Training] Programme, Focus Counselling Services, Pathways Bermuda and the Bermuda Addic-tion Certification Board (BACB) all received grants and
provided required services as per their grant agreements during the 2024/25 fiscal year.
Madam Chairman, Shift, formerly known as
PRIDE, provides evidenced- based life skills programming within five of the public primary schools to support
drug education and drug prevention activities. In
2024/25, Shift received $119,000. This level of funding
created major challenges with their ability to retain staff
and facilitate their programming in the schools. Shift will
be granted $169,000 for fiscal year [2025/26], a 42 per
cent increase from fiscal year 2024/25 with the goal of
increasing their reach for programming in more schools
and restoring programme facilitator levels. The Salvation Army received $50,000 for the
Harbour Light and life skills programmes in fiscal year
2024/25. This funding level challenged their ability to
hire needed staff and their ability to provide their programmes effectively. Harbour Light and the l ife skills
[programmes] will receive a grant in the amount of
$100,000 in fiscal year 2025/26, a 100 per cent increase, to continue to provide residential drug treatment and community life skills programming for 10
males and hire needed staff.
Madam Chairman, Focus Counselling Service
provides transitional/supportive housing for up to 28 recovering males. These individual adult males have participated in primary drug treatment at other treatment
facilities (such as the prison, hospital, inpatient or outpatient services) and require assistance in re- integrating back into the community. The goal is to return participants back to the community as productive citizens,
thus improving the number of individuals maintaining a
drug free lifestyle. Focus C ounselling Services received $180,000 initially in fiscal year 2024/25. An ad-ditional $150,000 was awarded as a supplemental
bringing their grant to $330,000. Focus Counselling
Services will receive the same level grant of $330,000
in fiscal year 2025/26.
Pathways Bermuda provides outpatient substance abuse treatment and aftercare services within the community, servicing approximately 81 individuals.
Pathways received $150,000 as part of the supplemental funds awarded in fiscal year 2024/25 and will
receive a grant of the same level, $150,000 in fiscal
year 2025/26 to enhance their services and hiring of a Clinical Supervisor.
Madam Chairman, CADA works in collaboration with the Department for National Drug Control to
provide community education on alcohol misuse, as
well as to provide the server training programme (TIPS)
which is mandated within the Liquor Licence Act 1974,
as amended in 2011. A grant of $60,000 was provided
to CADA in fiscal year 2024/25, which mainly supports
the implementation of the TIPS programme.
CADA will receive the same level funding of
$60,000 in fiscal year 2025/26 to support these activities. Grant funding of $80,000 was provided to the Bermuda Addiction Certification Board (BACB) in fiscal year 2024/25. The Bermuda Addiction Certification
Board provides international certification testing for
both prevention and treatment professionals locally;
funding also supports addiction- specific training to enhance workforce development in this [specialty] area
on the Island; supports re- certification o f professionals
and helps to maintain membership in the International
Certification and Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC). Certification is required for registration of Addiction Counsellors to practice under the Allied Health Professions
Act 1973. There are currently 56 certified and registered Addiction Counsellors (an increase of seven from
the previous year); 12 of the Addiction Counsellors are
also certified Clinical Supervisors, (an increase of one
Bermuda Senate from the previous year) and there are two Prevention
Specialists, which is a total of 58 certified addiction professionals working in Bermuda. There are also five Associate Alcohol and Drug Counsellors holding that
[designation] under the board. BACB will receive the same level grant of $80,000 for fiscal year 2025/26 to
continue their work.
The highlighted agencies have provided an integral part of the drug prevention and drug treatment
continuum of services for Bermuda for many decades
in collaboration with the Department for National Drug Control. (See page C -21 Grants and Contributions.)
Business Unit 98010, Community Development
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the goal
of this unit is to educate the public about the harms of alcohol and drug use, to ensure the provision of clear
and sustained messages to our young people that no
use of alcohol, cannabis, tobacco or other drugs is acceptable. And to involve families, schools and community organisations in alcohol/drug prevention efforts.
Other initiatives for the Community Development unit are to assist in highlighting drunk/drug driving
and road safety initiatives through public education and to continue awareness campaigns directed at underage drinking, adolescent drug use (which is alcohol and
cannabis) and emerging drugs, such as fentanyl and synthetic drugs, edibles and vaping.
Throughout the 2024/25 fiscal year, the Department of National Drug Control Prevention Team
collaborated with the Department of Education to bring
awareness and education on the harms of vaping to
both high schools and middle schools in the public and private sectors through web- based presentations and
training with overseas specialists. A total of five training events for students and teachers were held. Two multimedia campaigns were focused on vaping and cannabis with ads occurring on radio, television and on the
Internet targeting the adolescent population.
Grassroots activities included work with the
Court Street Market Community group festival, participation in health booths at [both] senior schools and the
City of Hamilton.
Business Unit 98020, Prevention
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the Prevention Unit is responsible for providing drug prevention programmes for schools and the wider community
with the goal of stopping use before it starts.
The Prevention Unit facilitates the implementation and integration of the Al’s Pals programme at the pre-school level at all public schools and one private
school. Al’s Pals is an early childhood curriculum and teacher programme that promotes resiliency at the
early childhood stage with explicit instruction to develop
social competence, autonomy and problem solving.
The DNDC supports the Al’s Pals programme within schools by funding initial teacher training, refresher
courses and by providing resources/supplies for all educators implementing the programme at a cost of approximately $15,000 per year. Approximately 296 students have participated in the programme from the pre -
school level in the public schools, an 8 per cent increase from last year and 48 in the private schools (a
total of 344 students). Currently there are 42 teachers
trained and providing the Al’s Pals programme.
Madam Chairman, the unit also provides the
Teen Peace programme that supports three public schools for P7 and M1 school -age children as an afterschool programme. Currently there are 50 students
participating in the Teen Peace programmes, a decrease of 15 f rom the previous fiscal year due to the
closing of one middle school. The programme allows students to be interactive with positive, prosocial adults and affords them the opportunity to further develop, operationalise and practice social -emotional learning
skills at a vital stage when children are transitioning developmentally, cognitively and emotionally.
The DNDC hires and trains facilitators for this
programme as well as provides all supplies and resources. Teachers facilitating have received the Bot-vin’s LifeSkills training, which a research- validated substance abuse prevention programme proven to reduce the risks of alcohol, tobacco, drug abuse, and violence. The programme targets the major social and psychological factors that promote the initiation of substance
use and other risky antisocial behaviours. There are six
trained facilitators —
The Chairman Chairman
Senator Simmons, Junior Minister Simmons, I am afraid our time is up for the debate of these heads, Heads 83, 7 and 88. It was heartening to hear about the progress being made in substance abuse prevention and the work of the Bermuda Police Service. Unfortunately, the Opposition will not …
Senator Simmons, Junior Minister
Simmons, I am afraid our time is up for the debate of
these heads, Heads 83, 7 and 88.
It was heartening to hear about the progress
being made in substance abuse prevention and the
work of the Bermuda Police Service. Unfortunately, the Opposition will not have an opportunity to ask questions on these heads.
Would you like to ask to move these heads?
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Thank you, Madam Chairman.
Madam Chairman, I move that Heads 83, 7,
and 88 be approved as printed.
Simmons, I am afraid our time is up for the debate of
these heads, Heads 83, 7 and 88.
It was heartening to hear about the progress
being made in substance abuse prevention and the
work of the Bermuda Police Service. Unfortunately, the Opposition will not have an opportunity to ask questions on these heads.
Would you like to ask to move these heads?
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Thank you, Madam Chairman.
Madam Chairman, I move that Heads 83, 7,
and 88 be approved as printed.
The Chairman Chairman
Are there any objections to that motion? An Hon. Senator: None at all.
The Chairman Chairman
There are no objections. It has been agreed to. [Motion carried: The Ministry of National Security, Heads, 83, 7, and 88 were approved and stand part of the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for the year 2025/26.] 312 5 June 2025 Official Hansard Report Bermuda Senate The Chairman: Senator Simmons, …
There are no objections. It has been
agreed to.
[Motion carried: The Ministry of National Security, Heads, 83, 7, and 88 were approved and stand part of
the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for the year
2025/26.]
312 5 June 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda Senate The Chairman: Senator Simmons, Junior Minister, I
believe that it is you again.
[Inaudible interjections]
agreed to.
[Motion carried: The Ministry of National Security, Heads, 83, 7, and 88 were approved and stand part of
the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for the year
2025/26.]
312 5 June 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda Senate The Chairman: Senator Simmons, Junior Minister, I
believe that it is you again.
[Inaudible interjections]
The Chairman Chairman
All right. So that will be the Ministry of Youth, Social Development and Seniors, Heads 86, 23, and 55. We have two hours that debate. Senator Simmons, do you need to take a minute? Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Thank you.
The Chairman Chairman
All right. So we will note that the time is 3:02 pm. Thank you. MINISTRY OF YOUTH, SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND SENIORS Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Thank you. Madam Chairman, I move that the Committee do now take under consideration Head 86, Ministry of Youth, Social Development and Seniors Headquarters; Head 23, …
All right. So we will note that the time
is 3:02 pm. Thank you.
MINISTRY OF YOUTH, SOCIAL
DEVELOPMENT AND SENIORS
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Thank you.
Madam Chairman, I move that the Committee
do now take under consideration Head 86, Ministry of
Youth, Social Development and Seniors Headquarters;
Head 23, Child and Family Services; and Head 55, Financial Assistance.
Madam Chairman, I am pleased to present the
2025/26 budget estimates for the Ministry of Youth, Social Development and Seniors which comprises the
Ministry of Youth, Social Development and Seniors
Headquarters, inclusive of Ageing and Disability Services, the K. Margaret Carter Centre, the Office of
Youth Affairs; the Department of Child and Family Services and, the Department of Financial Assistance.
Madam Chairman, the 2025/26 budget allocations for the Ministry of Youth, Social Development and Seniors will demonstrate that the services and programmes offered by the Ministry will directly impact and
improve the overall well -being and quality of life.
The Ministry was focused on [numerous] national priorities during the last budget year, which are ongoing and will continue in the upcoming 2025/26 budget year. Some of these include:
• Work done to support the implementation of
the five- year National Plan for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities and their Families 20232028.
• A work plan developed by the Gender Affairs
Council that includes reviewing CARICOM Regional Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice
(KAP) Tool and making recommendations to the KAP Tool will be adapted for Bermuda.
• Strengthening the Litigation Guardian Framework as the Ministry officially established the
Office of the Litigation Guardian.
• Observations of the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls and the launch of the
16 Days of Activism. • The continued joint partnership with the UN
Women and UNDP participating in the Joint
Sustainable Development Go- Fund Programme entitled: Building Back Equal through
Innovative Financing for Gender Equality and
Women’s Empowerment.
• In partnership with UN Women, the Bermuda
Economic Development Corporation [BEDC]
and the Ministry to host virtual training ses-sions on Women’s Empowerment Principles
(WEPs) 101 and the Gender Gap Analysis
Tool for Business Growth in Bermuda.
• Collaboration with BEDC, UNDP, and UN
Women and the Founder Institute the world’s
largest pre- seed startup accelerator advanced
the initiative, Rise and Scale: Bermuda Busi-ness Accelerator . [The initiative] aimed to foster an inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem in Bermuda through a five- week intensive accelerator programme for persons with disabilities, women, and youth entrepreneurs.
• Continue work that supported Bermuda becoming the first British Overseas Territory to
have the United Kingdom extend the Conven-tion on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
This extension safeguards the rights, dignity
and full participation of more than 3,000 persons living with disabilities in Bermuda.
Madam Chairman, the summary of the fiscal
year 2025/26 current account budget estimate for the Ministry of Youth, Social Development and Seniors is found on page B -290. The Ministry’s total budget estimate [for the fiscal year 2025/26 is] $91,274,000.
This represents an increase of $5,979,000 or
7 per cent compared to the original estimate of
$85,295,000 for fiscal year 2024/25.
Madam Chairman, this summary shows that
the 2025/26 current expenditure allocations for all
heads within the Ministry have increased. I will explain
the details of these increases further in this budget presentation.
HEAD 86 —MINISTRY HEADQUARTERS
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the current account expenditure for Head 86, Ministry Head-quarters, can be found on pages B -290 to B -293.
The Ministry Headquarters is responsible for
the budget of 10 business units
• 96000– Administration;
• 96040– Ageing and Disability Services;
• 96050– K. Margaret Carter Centre;
• 96060– Policy Development;
• 96070– Grants to the Third Sector;
• 96080– Youth Office;
• 96090– Youth Grants and Investments;
• 96100– Youth Community Centres;
Bermuda Senate • 96110– Before, After, and Out of School Programmes; and
• 96120– Youth Policy.
Madam Chairman, the mission of the Ministry
of Youth, Social Development and Seniors Headquarters found on page B -291 is the protection of all individuals during their lifetime and facilitation of well -being.
The five objectives of the Ministry Headquarters are
also found on page B -291.
Madam Chairman, the General Summary of
the Ministry’s budget on page B -291 shows that the total budget allocation for the Ministry Headquarters for
fiscal year 2025/26 is $14,111,000, distributed amongst
the 10 business units representing a net increase of
$2,617,000.
I will now share details of each of these business units, commencing with business unit 96000, Administration.
Business Unit 96000 —Administration
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the
2025/26 budget for the Administration business unit 96000 of $1,625,000 compares to the $1,352,000 originally budgeted in fiscal year 2024/25. This reflects an
increase of $273,000, or a 20 per cent increase, as
shown on page B -291, wh ich primarily accounts for salary uplifts to substantive staff resulting from union ne-gotiation agreements and increase in rental fees and
the cost of materials and supplies.
Business Unit 96040 —Ageing and Disability Services
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, I now present the budget for business unit 96040, Ageing and Disability Services (or ADS), which can be found on
page B –291.
Madam Chairman, ADS has been allocated a
budget of $1,902,000, for fiscal year 2025/26. This al-location is 43 per cent or $570,000 more than the
budget allocation in fiscal year 2024/25. This increase
includes the mid- year supplementary funding of
$120,000.
Policy and Program Development
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, Ageing
and Disability Services (ADS) continues to lead the
planning and coordination of policies and programmes for the protection of seniors and individuals with disabilities.
Madam Chairman, the Ministry fulfilled its 2021
Throne Speech commitment with the launch of the National Disability Register mobile app on April 24, 2024.
The National Disability Register is a pivotal
step and underscores the Government’s commitment to persons with disabilities by upholding the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goal, SDG 10, Reduce Inequalities.
Madam Chairman, another significant achievement was the completion of the National Seniors Strategy 2024- 2030, a first for Bermuda and fulfilling the
Government's 2020 Throne Speech commitment.
Several national policy and programming initiatives outlined in the National Seniors Strategy [NSS] has already been initiated that include:
• The establishment of a long -term care working
group.
• Amendments to the Senior Abuse Register Act
2008.
• Development of an integrated care pathway for
Dementia.
• Collaboration with the Ministry of Justice on the
development of an Office of the Public Guardian.
• The development of a Senior Day Care Facility:
On page C -8, Capital Development, a total of
$1.5 million has been allocated this fiscal year to hire an architectural firm and start the building designs for
this project. A project manager has already been identified and engaged.
The Ministry is actively collaborating with the
Ministry of Public Works to advance the project.
Education and Awareness
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, During
the last fiscal year, ADS held 19 education and awareness events, well exceeding its projected number. This
includes the second annual Seniors Tea held in June
2024, which successfully hosted over 100 seniors.
Other community awareness activities during
the past year included:
• Domestic Violence Day Proclamation and awareness event that ADS participated in as a
member of MARAC [Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference].
• Presentations to organisations on abuse prevention and abuse prevention tips to seniors’
clubs.
Case Management
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, case
management represents the primary programme under
ADS business unit 96040. Case management clients include seniors and persons over 18 years old with
long-standing disabling conditions and are divided into
general case management and adult protection services.
Madam Chairman, in 2024/25 ADS had a total
of 389 cases, an 18 per cent [increase] from the previous year. Of these cases, 228 were general case man-agement cases, including 26 [ cases ] of persons under
314 5 June 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda Senate 65 years of age, of which 8 included abuse allegations.
The remainder of the total cases were senior abuse referrals totalling 161 reports received. The reports identified were categori sed as:
• 35 per cent for physical abuse
• 28 per cent for financial exploitation
• 23 per cent for psychological abuse
• 11 per cent for neglect and
• 3 per cent for sexual abuse
Of these reports received, to date:
• 24 [per cent] were substantiated
• 54 [per cent] were unsubstantiated
• 22 [per cent] are pending, as they are still under investigation
Madam Chairman, the number of reports and
cases managed by this office is increasing each year
due to an ageing population and increased awareness
of the ADS services.
Madam Chairman, as result of the Ministry’s
commitment to dementia support services, a dementia
pilot programme, managed by ADS, commenced in Oc-tober 2023 with funding extended in six -month increments up to June 2025. A total of $96,000 was allocated to the dementia servi ces pilot programme. [The
funds] contributed to the provision of dementia needs
assessments and case management services to 111
persons in the community.
Business Unit 96050
K. Margaret Carter Centre (KMCC)
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the
K. Margaret Carter Centre (KMCC) provides direct support for adults with intellectual disabilities in the community through comprehensive day programme services and case management.
For the fiscal year 2025/26, on page B -291, the
K. Margaret Carter Centre has a budget allocation of
$2,343,000.
Madam Chairman, during 2024/25, KMCC
continued to provide programmes, five days per week,
to service users across six client groups with programme and staff development efforts taking place in the following areas:
• The continuation of a once weekly hot lunch
programme that promotes client involvement in
the preparation of meals.
• Regular bake sales promoting culinary and vocational skills development amongst participating clients.
• Participation in key events such as the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD)
2024 proclamation, “A Motown Christmas Mu-sical” put on by the clients with staff support,
and the annual Mates & Dates Valentines
Dance hosted in collaboration wi th the Mid- Atlantic Wellness Institute’s Community Intellectual Disabilities Team (CIDT) and Carter House Charity.
Madam Chairman, it is important to note that in
the last fiscal year the K. Margaret Carter Centre experienced specific programme enhancements, which in-cluded:
• Restructuring the programme format to establish seven distinct core programmes.
• Development of a Safeguarding Policy and a
Behaviour Support Policy, to better align
KMCC practices with international standards.
• Establishment of formalised entry and exit criteria to assess the needs of potential clients.
• Engagement in staff professional development
focused on psychological safety in the workplace.
• Facilitation of a comprehensive programme
design consultation process involving staff,
parents/guardians, and clients.
Madam Chairman, the K. Margaret Carter Centre received a mid- year supplementary funding of
$668,930, which has played a [critical] role in enhancing its service delivery and supporting ongoing devel-opment efforts. This funding has directly enabled:
• Hiring an additional case manager and
paraprofessional to improve staff -to-client ratios along with a nurse and behaviour al therapist.
• Expanding the day care hours at KMCC from
3:00 pm to 5:45 pm for those parents and
guardians who work until 5:00 pm.
• Renovations of the former woodwork room to
create an appropriate space for a specialised
day programme.
On page C -8, Capital Development, $45,000
has been budgeted for this upcoming year to cover the
[requisite] renovations.
Madam Chairman, I will move on to business
unit 96060, Policy Development (page B -291).
Business Unit 96060
Policy Development (page B -291)
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: For fiscal 2025/26, Madam
Chairman, $157,000 was allocated for policy development. This is an increase of $2,000, reflecting a salary
uplift for the one full -time equivalent as shown on page
B-293. This policy resource supports the Ministry’s policy commit ments, which include Throne Speech and
the Government’s platform initiatives.
Madam Chairman, $3,695,000 has been allocated for the fiscal year 2025/26 for business unit
96070, Grants to the Third Sector, as shown on page
B-291. This is an increase of $590,000, or 19 per cent,
reflecting the inclusion of grant funding for The Teen
Services and The Teen Haven, which have shifted from
the Department of Child and Family Services to the
Ministry Headquarters.
Bermuda Senate Youth Affairs
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, I will now
present the fiscal year 2025/26 estimates of expendi-ture and revenue for the Office of Youth Affairs, which can be found on pages B -291 to B -292 of the Estimates
Book.
Madam Chairman, as shown on page B -291,
the total 2025/26 budget allocation for all four programmes Youth Development, Youth Outreach, Youth
Services and Youth Policy, is $4,389,000, an increase of $729,000, or 20 per cent.
Programme 8602, Youth Administration
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the allocated budget for fiscal year 2025/26 for programme 8602, Youth Administration (shown as Youth Development) is $691,000. This reflects an increase of
$75,000, or 12 per cent, as shown on page B -291.
Madam Chairman, within this youth development programme, $556,000 will cover business unit 96080. This allocation is $40,000 higher, or 8 per cent
more than in 2024/25, and provides for salaries, training, recreational services, supplies and other funds to ensure the operations of the Youth Office, now [relocated] to Verita’s Place, 65 Court Street, Hamilton.
Madam Chairman, the allocated budget for
business unit 96090, Grants and Investments, is
$135,000. This is an increase of $35,000, or 35 per
cent, compared to 2024/25.
Programme 8603, Youth Outreach
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the
budget allocation for business unit 96100, Youth Com-munity Centres is $1,713,000, an increase of $135,000, or 9 per cent compared to 2024/25. These monies will
cover the cost of operations for the three community centres located at the Eastern Zone Community Centre
in St. George’s, the Sammy Wilson Central Zone Com-munity Centre in Hamilton, and the Western Zone
Community Centre in Sandys.
The increase in funding of $135,000 is attributed to expanded hours of work for the community workers to support parents and guardians who work
shift hours and need to have their children in a safe environment.
Madam Chairman, the Youth Community Centres have 20 full -time equivalents (FTEs) for fiscal year
2025/26, shown on page B -293. These workers facilitate a variety of community enrichment programmes for
seniors, adults, youth, and children providing engaging
activities for the whole family that promotes the section’s aim in empowering youth, families, and our communities.
Programme 8604, Youth Services
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, business
unit 96110, Before/After/Out of School Programmes has been allocated $1,802,000, shown on page B -291.
This is an increase of 23 per cent, or $336,000 in comparison to fiscal year 2024/25. This increase reflects adjustments made to salaries, communications, materials and supplies for 15 youth programmes.
Madam Chairman, during 2024/25, Youth Services supported approximately 550 preschool, primary
and middle school -aged participants in the after school
programme and 1,650 preschool, primary and middle
school participants in the out of school programmes
across the Island.
There are a total of 28 full -time equivalents
committed to these programmes, an increase of 8 per
cent compared to 2024/25, shown on page B -293. Just
over 60 seasonal workers are employed with Youth
Services and just under half are local college students.
Programme 8605, Youth Development
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: For fiscal year 2025/26,
Madam Chairman, $183,000 has been allocated to
business unit 96120, Youth Policy, shown on page B -
291. The budget is designated for salaries, workshop
facilitation, conference materials and supplies.
This programme is responsible for the coordination of the National Youth Policy and the execution of the activities to progress the policy. There is one full -
time equivalent, as shown on page B -293 responsible
for providing technical advice and support to the work-ing group for advancing the National Youth Policy priorities.
Performance Measures
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the performance measures for the Office of Youth Affairs [TOYA] can be found on pages B -295 to B -296 of which
all target outcomes were met during 2024/25.
Madam Chairman, business unit 96090 funded
15 grants to youth organisations and groups in 2024/25. These organisations have invested countless
hours into the development of Bermuda’s youth.
During 2025/26, TOYA [the Office of Youth Affairs] will continue to support organisations that are
committed to making impactful change to empower
Bermuda’s youth. Additionally , Madam Chairman, during 2024/25 , two youth investments aligned with National Youth Policy Goal 5.3, were given as a short -term
sponsorship to young people who wish to pursue their
recreational passions in areas including the arts, [oration], culinary arts, science, technology, engineering
and math (STEM). The first two recipients to receive
this sponsorship were:
• Carter Murray, an eight -year-old prodigy student at the Bermuda Institute who showed proficiency in math and represented Bermuda in
316 5 June 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda Senate the All -USA Calculation Contest. He was the
only international student to participate.
• Christian Warren, a seventeen- year-old who is
determined to become Bermuda’s youngest
commercially licensed pilot to fly at 25 years
old. He completed flight school training last
summer; these hours will go toward his Commercial Pilot Licen ce.
Madam Chairman, the performance measures
of the Office of Youth Affairs , shown on pages B -295
and B -296, provide evidence of a productive year.
Other Youth Initiatives
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, during the
past year there were opportunities created to engage young people and show appreciation for those who
work with them.
The first -ever Middle School Mash Up was held
April 18, 2024, where eligible students participated in a
day of Xtreme Sports to develop and enhance team
building skills.
• From April 22 through 26, 2024, the team
acknowledged staff during the after school programme Professional Week with activities that
gave clients and the public opportunities to express their appreciation.
• The National 18+ Youth Conference and activities were held from July 15 t o 21, 2024. Intentionally unconventional, this allowed for interaction with young people across the I sland.
• On August 12, 2024, International Youth Day
was observed with a proclamation to declare
the Government’s commitment to youth by es-tablishing the entity Youth Affairs.
• An Anti -Bullying Week campaign culminated
on the steps of City Hall from November [11]
through 15, 2024, with testimonies to bring
awareness to eradicate the antisocial behav-iours associated with bullying.
• The National Mini Youth Conference “Big Up
Yaself ” and your mental health was held on
January 30 and 31 2025, at the Botanical Gar-dens. This two- day event yielded the presence
of over 200 students participating in workshops and mindfulness activities.
• A Neurodiversity Week Awareness Campaign
held March 17 through 21, 2025, was a soft
launch to the expansion of services within the Before, After and Out of School Programme.
Madam Chairman, this concludes the presentation on the fiscal year 2025/26 budgetary allocation for Head 86 , Section: The Office of Youth Affairs.
is 3:02 pm. Thank you.
MINISTRY OF YOUTH, SOCIAL
DEVELOPMENT AND SENIORS
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Thank you.
Madam Chairman, I move that the Committee
do now take under consideration Head 86, Ministry of
Youth, Social Development and Seniors Headquarters;
Head 23, Child and Family Services; and Head 55, Financial Assistance.
Madam Chairman, I am pleased to present the
2025/26 budget estimates for the Ministry of Youth, Social Development and Seniors which comprises the
Ministry of Youth, Social Development and Seniors
Headquarters, inclusive of Ageing and Disability Services, the K. Margaret Carter Centre, the Office of
Youth Affairs; the Department of Child and Family Services and, the Department of Financial Assistance.
Madam Chairman, the 2025/26 budget allocations for the Ministry of Youth, Social Development and Seniors will demonstrate that the services and programmes offered by the Ministry will directly impact and
improve the overall well -being and quality of life.
The Ministry was focused on [numerous] national priorities during the last budget year, which are ongoing and will continue in the upcoming 2025/26 budget year. Some of these include:
• Work done to support the implementation of
the five- year National Plan for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities and their Families 20232028.
• A work plan developed by the Gender Affairs
Council that includes reviewing CARICOM Regional Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice
(KAP) Tool and making recommendations to the KAP Tool will be adapted for Bermuda.
• Strengthening the Litigation Guardian Framework as the Ministry officially established the
Office of the Litigation Guardian.
• Observations of the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls and the launch of the
16 Days of Activism. • The continued joint partnership with the UN
Women and UNDP participating in the Joint
Sustainable Development Go- Fund Programme entitled: Building Back Equal through
Innovative Financing for Gender Equality and
Women’s Empowerment.
• In partnership with UN Women, the Bermuda
Economic Development Corporation [BEDC]
and the Ministry to host virtual training ses-sions on Women’s Empowerment Principles
(WEPs) 101 and the Gender Gap Analysis
Tool for Business Growth in Bermuda.
• Collaboration with BEDC, UNDP, and UN
Women and the Founder Institute the world’s
largest pre- seed startup accelerator advanced
the initiative, Rise and Scale: Bermuda Busi-ness Accelerator . [The initiative] aimed to foster an inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem in Bermuda through a five- week intensive accelerator programme for persons with disabilities, women, and youth entrepreneurs.
• Continue work that supported Bermuda becoming the first British Overseas Territory to
have the United Kingdom extend the Conven-tion on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
This extension safeguards the rights, dignity
and full participation of more than 3,000 persons living with disabilities in Bermuda.
Madam Chairman, the summary of the fiscal
year 2025/26 current account budget estimate for the Ministry of Youth, Social Development and Seniors is found on page B -290. The Ministry’s total budget estimate [for the fiscal year 2025/26 is] $91,274,000.
This represents an increase of $5,979,000 or
7 per cent compared to the original estimate of
$85,295,000 for fiscal year 2024/25.
Madam Chairman, this summary shows that
the 2025/26 current expenditure allocations for all
heads within the Ministry have increased. I will explain
the details of these increases further in this budget presentation.
HEAD 86 —MINISTRY HEADQUARTERS
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the current account expenditure for Head 86, Ministry Head-quarters, can be found on pages B -290 to B -293.
The Ministry Headquarters is responsible for
the budget of 10 business units
• 96000– Administration;
• 96040– Ageing and Disability Services;
• 96050– K. Margaret Carter Centre;
• 96060– Policy Development;
• 96070– Grants to the Third Sector;
• 96080– Youth Office;
• 96090– Youth Grants and Investments;
• 96100– Youth Community Centres;
Bermuda Senate • 96110– Before, After, and Out of School Programmes; and
• 96120– Youth Policy.
Madam Chairman, the mission of the Ministry
of Youth, Social Development and Seniors Headquarters found on page B -291 is the protection of all individuals during their lifetime and facilitation of well -being.
The five objectives of the Ministry Headquarters are
also found on page B -291.
Madam Chairman, the General Summary of
the Ministry’s budget on page B -291 shows that the total budget allocation for the Ministry Headquarters for
fiscal year 2025/26 is $14,111,000, distributed amongst
the 10 business units representing a net increase of
$2,617,000.
I will now share details of each of these business units, commencing with business unit 96000, Administration.
Business Unit 96000 —Administration
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the
2025/26 budget for the Administration business unit 96000 of $1,625,000 compares to the $1,352,000 originally budgeted in fiscal year 2024/25. This reflects an
increase of $273,000, or a 20 per cent increase, as
shown on page B -291, wh ich primarily accounts for salary uplifts to substantive staff resulting from union ne-gotiation agreements and increase in rental fees and
the cost of materials and supplies.
Business Unit 96040 —Ageing and Disability Services
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, I now present the budget for business unit 96040, Ageing and Disability Services (or ADS), which can be found on
page B –291.
Madam Chairman, ADS has been allocated a
budget of $1,902,000, for fiscal year 2025/26. This al-location is 43 per cent or $570,000 more than the
budget allocation in fiscal year 2024/25. This increase
includes the mid- year supplementary funding of
$120,000.
Policy and Program Development
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, Ageing
and Disability Services (ADS) continues to lead the
planning and coordination of policies and programmes for the protection of seniors and individuals with disabilities.
Madam Chairman, the Ministry fulfilled its 2021
Throne Speech commitment with the launch of the National Disability Register mobile app on April 24, 2024.
The National Disability Register is a pivotal
step and underscores the Government’s commitment to persons with disabilities by upholding the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goal, SDG 10, Reduce Inequalities.
Madam Chairman, another significant achievement was the completion of the National Seniors Strategy 2024- 2030, a first for Bermuda and fulfilling the
Government's 2020 Throne Speech commitment.
Several national policy and programming initiatives outlined in the National Seniors Strategy [NSS] has already been initiated that include:
• The establishment of a long -term care working
group.
• Amendments to the Senior Abuse Register Act
2008.
• Development of an integrated care pathway for
Dementia.
• Collaboration with the Ministry of Justice on the
development of an Office of the Public Guardian.
• The development of a Senior Day Care Facility:
On page C -8, Capital Development, a total of
$1.5 million has been allocated this fiscal year to hire an architectural firm and start the building designs for
this project. A project manager has already been identified and engaged.
The Ministry is actively collaborating with the
Ministry of Public Works to advance the project.
Education and Awareness
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, During
the last fiscal year, ADS held 19 education and awareness events, well exceeding its projected number. This
includes the second annual Seniors Tea held in June
2024, which successfully hosted over 100 seniors.
Other community awareness activities during
the past year included:
• Domestic Violence Day Proclamation and awareness event that ADS participated in as a
member of MARAC [Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference].
• Presentations to organisations on abuse prevention and abuse prevention tips to seniors’
clubs.
Case Management
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, case
management represents the primary programme under
ADS business unit 96040. Case management clients include seniors and persons over 18 years old with
long-standing disabling conditions and are divided into
general case management and adult protection services.
Madam Chairman, in 2024/25 ADS had a total
of 389 cases, an 18 per cent [increase] from the previous year. Of these cases, 228 were general case man-agement cases, including 26 [ cases ] of persons under
314 5 June 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda Senate 65 years of age, of which 8 included abuse allegations.
The remainder of the total cases were senior abuse referrals totalling 161 reports received. The reports identified were categori sed as:
• 35 per cent for physical abuse
• 28 per cent for financial exploitation
• 23 per cent for psychological abuse
• 11 per cent for neglect and
• 3 per cent for sexual abuse
Of these reports received, to date:
• 24 [per cent] were substantiated
• 54 [per cent] were unsubstantiated
• 22 [per cent] are pending, as they are still under investigation
Madam Chairman, the number of reports and
cases managed by this office is increasing each year
due to an ageing population and increased awareness
of the ADS services.
Madam Chairman, as result of the Ministry’s
commitment to dementia support services, a dementia
pilot programme, managed by ADS, commenced in Oc-tober 2023 with funding extended in six -month increments up to June 2025. A total of $96,000 was allocated to the dementia servi ces pilot programme. [The
funds] contributed to the provision of dementia needs
assessments and case management services to 111
persons in the community.
Business Unit 96050
K. Margaret Carter Centre (KMCC)
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the
K. Margaret Carter Centre (KMCC) provides direct support for adults with intellectual disabilities in the community through comprehensive day programme services and case management.
For the fiscal year 2025/26, on page B -291, the
K. Margaret Carter Centre has a budget allocation of
$2,343,000.
Madam Chairman, during 2024/25, KMCC
continued to provide programmes, five days per week,
to service users across six client groups with programme and staff development efforts taking place in the following areas:
• The continuation of a once weekly hot lunch
programme that promotes client involvement in
the preparation of meals.
• Regular bake sales promoting culinary and vocational skills development amongst participating clients.
• Participation in key events such as the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD)
2024 proclamation, “A Motown Christmas Mu-sical” put on by the clients with staff support,
and the annual Mates & Dates Valentines
Dance hosted in collaboration wi th the Mid- Atlantic Wellness Institute’s Community Intellectual Disabilities Team (CIDT) and Carter House Charity.
Madam Chairman, it is important to note that in
the last fiscal year the K. Margaret Carter Centre experienced specific programme enhancements, which in-cluded:
• Restructuring the programme format to establish seven distinct core programmes.
• Development of a Safeguarding Policy and a
Behaviour Support Policy, to better align
KMCC practices with international standards.
• Establishment of formalised entry and exit criteria to assess the needs of potential clients.
• Engagement in staff professional development
focused on psychological safety in the workplace.
• Facilitation of a comprehensive programme
design consultation process involving staff,
parents/guardians, and clients.
Madam Chairman, the K. Margaret Carter Centre received a mid- year supplementary funding of
$668,930, which has played a [critical] role in enhancing its service delivery and supporting ongoing devel-opment efforts. This funding has directly enabled:
• Hiring an additional case manager and
paraprofessional to improve staff -to-client ratios along with a nurse and behaviour al therapist.
• Expanding the day care hours at KMCC from
3:00 pm to 5:45 pm for those parents and
guardians who work until 5:00 pm.
• Renovations of the former woodwork room to
create an appropriate space for a specialised
day programme.
On page C -8, Capital Development, $45,000
has been budgeted for this upcoming year to cover the
[requisite] renovations.
Madam Chairman, I will move on to business
unit 96060, Policy Development (page B -291).
Business Unit 96060
Policy Development (page B -291)
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: For fiscal 2025/26, Madam
Chairman, $157,000 was allocated for policy development. This is an increase of $2,000, reflecting a salary
uplift for the one full -time equivalent as shown on page
B-293. This policy resource supports the Ministry’s policy commit ments, which include Throne Speech and
the Government’s platform initiatives.
Madam Chairman, $3,695,000 has been allocated for the fiscal year 2025/26 for business unit
96070, Grants to the Third Sector, as shown on page
B-291. This is an increase of $590,000, or 19 per cent,
reflecting the inclusion of grant funding for The Teen
Services and The Teen Haven, which have shifted from
the Department of Child and Family Services to the
Ministry Headquarters.
Bermuda Senate Youth Affairs
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, I will now
present the fiscal year 2025/26 estimates of expendi-ture and revenue for the Office of Youth Affairs, which can be found on pages B -291 to B -292 of the Estimates
Book.
Madam Chairman, as shown on page B -291,
the total 2025/26 budget allocation for all four programmes Youth Development, Youth Outreach, Youth
Services and Youth Policy, is $4,389,000, an increase of $729,000, or 20 per cent.
Programme 8602, Youth Administration
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the allocated budget for fiscal year 2025/26 for programme 8602, Youth Administration (shown as Youth Development) is $691,000. This reflects an increase of
$75,000, or 12 per cent, as shown on page B -291.
Madam Chairman, within this youth development programme, $556,000 will cover business unit 96080. This allocation is $40,000 higher, or 8 per cent
more than in 2024/25, and provides for salaries, training, recreational services, supplies and other funds to ensure the operations of the Youth Office, now [relocated] to Verita’s Place, 65 Court Street, Hamilton.
Madam Chairman, the allocated budget for
business unit 96090, Grants and Investments, is
$135,000. This is an increase of $35,000, or 35 per
cent, compared to 2024/25.
Programme 8603, Youth Outreach
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the
budget allocation for business unit 96100, Youth Com-munity Centres is $1,713,000, an increase of $135,000, or 9 per cent compared to 2024/25. These monies will
cover the cost of operations for the three community centres located at the Eastern Zone Community Centre
in St. George’s, the Sammy Wilson Central Zone Com-munity Centre in Hamilton, and the Western Zone
Community Centre in Sandys.
The increase in funding of $135,000 is attributed to expanded hours of work for the community workers to support parents and guardians who work
shift hours and need to have their children in a safe environment.
Madam Chairman, the Youth Community Centres have 20 full -time equivalents (FTEs) for fiscal year
2025/26, shown on page B -293. These workers facilitate a variety of community enrichment programmes for
seniors, adults, youth, and children providing engaging
activities for the whole family that promotes the section’s aim in empowering youth, families, and our communities.
Programme 8604, Youth Services
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, business
unit 96110, Before/After/Out of School Programmes has been allocated $1,802,000, shown on page B -291.
This is an increase of 23 per cent, or $336,000 in comparison to fiscal year 2024/25. This increase reflects adjustments made to salaries, communications, materials and supplies for 15 youth programmes.
Madam Chairman, during 2024/25, Youth Services supported approximately 550 preschool, primary
and middle school -aged participants in the after school
programme and 1,650 preschool, primary and middle
school participants in the out of school programmes
across the Island.
There are a total of 28 full -time equivalents
committed to these programmes, an increase of 8 per
cent compared to 2024/25, shown on page B -293. Just
over 60 seasonal workers are employed with Youth
Services and just under half are local college students.
Programme 8605, Youth Development
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: For fiscal year 2025/26,
Madam Chairman, $183,000 has been allocated to
business unit 96120, Youth Policy, shown on page B -
291. The budget is designated for salaries, workshop
facilitation, conference materials and supplies.
This programme is responsible for the coordination of the National Youth Policy and the execution of the activities to progress the policy. There is one full -
time equivalent, as shown on page B -293 responsible
for providing technical advice and support to the work-ing group for advancing the National Youth Policy priorities.
Performance Measures
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the performance measures for the Office of Youth Affairs [TOYA] can be found on pages B -295 to B -296 of which
all target outcomes were met during 2024/25.
Madam Chairman, business unit 96090 funded
15 grants to youth organisations and groups in 2024/25. These organisations have invested countless
hours into the development of Bermuda’s youth.
During 2025/26, TOYA [the Office of Youth Affairs] will continue to support organisations that are
committed to making impactful change to empower
Bermuda’s youth. Additionally , Madam Chairman, during 2024/25 , two youth investments aligned with National Youth Policy Goal 5.3, were given as a short -term
sponsorship to young people who wish to pursue their
recreational passions in areas including the arts, [oration], culinary arts, science, technology, engineering
and math (STEM). The first two recipients to receive
this sponsorship were:
• Carter Murray, an eight -year-old prodigy student at the Bermuda Institute who showed proficiency in math and represented Bermuda in
316 5 June 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda Senate the All -USA Calculation Contest. He was the
only international student to participate.
• Christian Warren, a seventeen- year-old who is
determined to become Bermuda’s youngest
commercially licensed pilot to fly at 25 years
old. He completed flight school training last
summer; these hours will go toward his Commercial Pilot Licen ce.
Madam Chairman, the performance measures
of the Office of Youth Affairs , shown on pages B -295
and B -296, provide evidence of a productive year.
Other Youth Initiatives
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, during the
past year there were opportunities created to engage young people and show appreciation for those who
work with them.
The first -ever Middle School Mash Up was held
April 18, 2024, where eligible students participated in a
day of Xtreme Sports to develop and enhance team
building skills.
• From April 22 through 26, 2024, the team
acknowledged staff during the after school programme Professional Week with activities that
gave clients and the public opportunities to express their appreciation.
• The National 18+ Youth Conference and activities were held from July 15 t o 21, 2024. Intentionally unconventional, this allowed for interaction with young people across the I sland.
• On August 12, 2024, International Youth Day
was observed with a proclamation to declare
the Government’s commitment to youth by es-tablishing the entity Youth Affairs.
• An Anti -Bullying Week campaign culminated
on the steps of City Hall from November [11]
through 15, 2024, with testimonies to bring
awareness to eradicate the antisocial behav-iours associated with bullying.
• The National Mini Youth Conference “Big Up
Yaself ” and your mental health was held on
January 30 and 31 2025, at the Botanical Gar-dens. This two- day event yielded the presence
of over 200 students participating in workshops and mindfulness activities.
• A Neurodiversity Week Awareness Campaign
held March 17 through 21, 2025, was a soft
launch to the expansion of services within the Before, After and Out of School Programme.
Madam Chairman, this concludes the presentation on the fiscal year 2025/26 budgetary allocation for Head 86 , Section: The Office of Youth Affairs.
The Chairman Chairman
Thank you, Senator Simmons. Do any Senators wish to speak to those heads? Senator Foley. Sen. Maurice Foley: Thank you, Madam Chairman. I am going to cover Head 86, Ministry of Youth, Social Development and Seniors HQ, page [B] -291 and business unit 96040 under Ageing and Disability Ser-vices. Madam …
Thank you, Senator Simmons.
Do any Senators wish to speak to those
heads?
Senator Foley. Sen. Maurice Foley: Thank you, Madam Chairman.
I am going to cover Head 86, Ministry of Youth,
Social Development and Seniors HQ, page [B] -291 and
business unit 96040 under Ageing and Disability Ser-vices.
Madam Chairman, as I look through the Ministry’s budget for Youth, Social Development and Seniors
I have to say it reads a little like business as usual; however, I do acknowledge the continuation of important
efforts like the dementia care pilot programm e and the
planned senior day care facility at Gilbert Institute.
These are good initiatives. But given the ageing population and the very real needs of our seniors, I was hoping to see more urgency and forward- planning. So, I do
have a few questions around how these initiatives are
being prioritised, measured and scaled because while
the intent is there, I think we need to be a bit more clear on where all this is going.
So, if the . . . let me go over the first question
that I have. It has been stated that the Ministry has al-located $150,000 to continue the dementia care pilot
programme, which has supported (I updated my numbers based on what the Junior Minister has stat ed) 111
seniors since October 2023. So, my question is, Can the Junior Minister let us know, What is the long- term
vision of this pilot programme and how will outcomes be used to justify a full -scale implementation? That is
my first question.
Do any Senators wish to speak to those
heads?
Senator Foley. Sen. Maurice Foley: Thank you, Madam Chairman.
I am going to cover Head 86, Ministry of Youth,
Social Development and Seniors HQ, page [B] -291 and
business unit 96040 under Ageing and Disability Ser-vices.
Madam Chairman, as I look through the Ministry’s budget for Youth, Social Development and Seniors
I have to say it reads a little like business as usual; however, I do acknowledge the continuation of important
efforts like the dementia care pilot programm e and the
planned senior day care facility at Gilbert Institute.
These are good initiatives. But given the ageing population and the very real needs of our seniors, I was hoping to see more urgency and forward- planning. So, I do
have a few questions around how these initiatives are
being prioritised, measured and scaled because while
the intent is there, I think we need to be a bit more clear on where all this is going.
So, if the . . . let me go over the first question
that I have. It has been stated that the Ministry has al-located $150,000 to continue the dementia care pilot
programme, which has supported (I updated my numbers based on what the Junior Minister has stat ed) 111
seniors since October 2023. So, my question is, Can the Junior Minister let us know, What is the long- term
vision of this pilot programme and how will outcomes be used to justify a full -scale implementation? That is
my first question.
The Chairman Chairman
Thank you. Senator Simmons, did you hear that question or would you like for it to be repeated? And I must add that Senator Simmons has indicated that she was not finished covering that head and has a little bit more to go. So— Sen. Maurice Foley: I apologise. Sen. …
Thank you.
Senator Simmons, did you hear that question
or would you like for it to be repeated? And I must add
that Senator Simmons has indicated that she was not finished covering that head and has a little bit more to
go. So—
Sen. Maurice Foley: I apologise.
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Yes, that was just for that
section.
Sen. Maurice Foley: Oh!
[Laughter]
Senator Simmons, did you hear that question
or would you like for it to be repeated? And I must add
that Senator Simmons has indicated that she was not finished covering that head and has a little bit more to
go. So—
Sen. Maurice Foley: I apologise.
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Yes, that was just for that
section.
Sen. Maurice Foley: Oh!
[Laughter]
The Chairman Chairman
Oh, all right. Sen. Maurice Foley: I was happy. [Laughter] Sen. Maurice Foley: I apologise.
The Chairman Chairman
So, Senator Foley, that was a long question. If you remember it, could you ask it again? Thank you. Sen. Maurice Foley: I apologise. Bermuda Senate Sen. Lindsay Simmons: No problem. Sen. Maurice Foley: The question was —
The Chairman Chairman
No. Could you perhaps hold it until Senator Simmons has finished? Sen. Maurice Foley: Absolutely. Thank you.
The Chairman Chairman
Thank you. Sen. Maurice Foley: Thank you. I apologise. Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Thank you. Sorry. That was just for that section. So, Madam Chairman— ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN SENATE VISITOR
The Chairman Chairman
Pardon me. It was remiss . . . I should note that the Minister [Tinee] Furbert, of Youth, Social Development and Seniors is in the Chamber. Thank you, Minister Furbert. [Committee of Supply, continuing] Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Thank you. Madam Chairman, the breakdown of the Ministry’s grants can be seen …
Pardon me. It was remiss . . . I should
note that the Minister [Tinee] Furbert, of Youth, Social
Development and Seniors is in the Chamber. Thank
you, Minister Furbert.
[Committee of Supply, continuing]
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Thank you.
Madam Chairman, the breakdown of the Ministry’s grants can be seen on page C -21 of the Estimate
Book.
In the fiscal year 2025/26, the Ministry’s following charities and organi sations will receive a grant from
the Ministry of Youth, Social Development and Seniors
to provide our community with the resources and social
services needed to support our vulnerable population
groups:
• Grant s to External Bodies has been allocated
$220,000.
• Youth Organi sations , $130,000.
• Age Concern , $25,000.
• Matilda Smith Williams and Lorraine’s Nursing
Home, $1,170,000.
• Women’s Resource Centre , $75,000.
• Centre Against Abuse, $150,000.
• Care of the Blind, $30,000.
• Meals on Wheels , $50,000 through the lunch
service of Meals on Wheels.
• Salvation Army , $550,000.
• The Summerhaven facility , $600,000.
• The Packwood Nursing Home, $ 350,000.
• HOME , $70,000.
• Tomorrow’s Voices $30,000.
Subjective Analysis of Current Account Estimates
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, I will now
present the combined subjective analysis of current account estimates for the Ministry Headquarters as found on page B -292 of the Estimates Book.
Salaries
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the
budget allocated for salaries is $4,880,000, in the fiscal year 2025/26, an increase of $651,000. This salary al-location covers the Ministry’s 87 full -time equivalents,
found on page B -293. The salary growth reflects increases in staff due to new social sector programmes,
additional employee costs as a result of expanded hours of the day care programme at the K. Margaret
Carter Centre and additional funding for negotiated sal-ary uplifts for 2025/26.
Wages
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the increase in the budget allocation for wages of $392,000 supports a cost -of-living increase for non- unionised
youth programme coordinators, programme supervi-sors, and programme [workers], community workers, as well as additional funding for two supervisors, all of
whom are employed within the Office of Youth Affairs. As well, extra funding has been appropriated for wage uplifts for unionised industrial employees.
Training
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, $56,000
has been allocated to facilitate professional training for employees during fiscal year 2025/26, representing an
increase of $43,000. This increase is due to Ageing and Disability Services funding a four -day joint safety training c ourse to include other government departments in
the forensic interviewing of older persons.
Transport and Travel
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the
$3,000 budgeted for transport for fiscal year 2025/26 is
on par with the prior year. The increase of $12,000 for
travel is budgeted to cover overseas travel for conferences and technical meetings.
Communications
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, communications, inclusive of phones, courier and postal costs,
is budgeted at $128,000 for fiscal year 2025/26, indicating an increase of $7,000. The increase reflects new expenses for telephone rentals and cell phones for the
Youth Policy section, as well as modest increases by
the Ministry HQ and the Youth Office.
Advertising and Promotion
318 5 June 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda Senate Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, advertising and promotion costs increased by $39,000. This increase is attributed to various planned marketing campaigns [by Ageing and Disability Services] on financial
abuse and scams committed against vulnerable per-sons; and by the Office of Youth Affai rs to promote
year-round recreational and social experiences within
the Community [Centres].
Professional Services
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, professional services of $1,658,000 for fiscal year 2025/26,
increased by $515,000. This increased level of funding
reflects the allocation of monies to fill a social sector
gap and provide specialist domestic abuse [perpetrator] treatment services.
Monies are also included to advance planning
and implementation of the National Seniors and LongTerm Care Strategy by the Ministry and also funding for
case management coverage and welfare guardian sup-port needed by Ageing and Disability Services.
Rentals
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, $235,000
was budgeted for rentals, an increase of $1,000. This increase represents a reduction in equipment rentals, offset by an increase in rented facilities to host workshops and conferences by the new Youth Policy section [and] the Youth Office.
Repair and Maintenance
Sen. Lindsay Simmons : Madam Chairman, in fiscal
year 2025/26, repair and maintenance has been allo-cated $209,000, or $41,000 more than the budget allo-cation for fiscal year 2024[/25]. This increase in funding
covers the cost of a variety of repair and maintenance
expenses anti cipated by the Community Centres including but not limited to industrial cleaning of floors, minor interior building repairs, pest control, and equipment maintenance. Also, increased funds have been
allocated to maintain an ageing bus operated by the K. Margaret Carter Centre.
Insurance
Sen. Lindsay Simmons : Madam Chairman, $72,000
is budgeted for insurance costs for fiscal year 2025/26.
The reduction [in costs] of $42,000 is representative of
a decline in the number of clients at the K. Margaret
Carter Centre who require HIP health insurance coverage.
Energy
Sen. Lindsay Simmons : Madam Chairman, energy
costs increased by $27,000 to $181,000. This increase will cover the costs of electricity for the Youth Office which recently moved from a shared rental space to its
own office.
Clothing, Uniforms and Laundry
Sen. Lindsay Simmons : Madam Chairman, costs for
clothing, uniforms and laundry account for $12,000.
The marginal increase of $1,000 will cover the costs to
replenish uniform shirts, jackets and protective wear for
the caretaker groundsman and community programme staff.
Materials and Supplies
Sen. Lindsay Simmons : Madam Chairman, $417,000
has been allocated for materials and supplies for fiscal
year 2025/26. This increase of $160,000 reflects the
costs of added social sector programmes, such as vocational supplies and equipment for the new Senior Intellectual Disab ility day care programme at the K. Margaret Carter Centre; sport and fitness equipment, edu-cational supplies, and vocational hardware for the extended day care programmes at both the central and
western [zone] Community Centres; and recreational
supplies to facilitate the Conference to Consultation
held by the Office of Youth Affairs. The increased costs will also cover supplies needed by the Youth Policy
section.
Equipment
Sen. Lindsay Simmons : Madam Chairman, equipment expenses have an allocation of $26,000, a reduc-tion of $16,000 from fiscal year 2024/25. Refurbishment works to fire and safety systems at the three community centres were completed in fiscal year 2024/25,
and thus only maintenance works needed to be budgeted for this year.
Other Expenses
Sen. Lindsay Simmons : Madam Chairman, $186,000
has been allocated for other expenses, which is an in-crease of $166,000 above fiscal year 2024/25. This in-crease will support new social sector programmes such
as [Ageing and Disabilities Services’] Seniors Hardship
fund, which wi ll cover the costs of food, medication, utility bills or short -term housing for vulnerable persons in
a crisis; and the central and western zone Community Centres will provide meals during their extended day
[care] programmes.
Grants and Contributions
Sen. Lindsay Simmons : Madam Chairman, the allocation for grants and contributions for fiscal year 2025/26 is $3,825,000, an increase of $620,000. The
increased budget supports additional [grant] funding to
Bermuda Senate youth organisations offered by the Office of Youth Affairs, and new funding for dementia care navigation and
intervention services offered by the Ministry. Also, grant
funding for Teen Services and Teen Haven has shifted
from the Department of Child and Family Services to the Ministry Headquarters.
Revenue Summary
Sen. Lindsay Simmons : Madam Chairman, revenue
summary, page B -292. The majority of the $643,000 in
revenue earnings reflect after -school vouchers purchased, and online payments by parents and guardians to have their children participate in the after -school programmes offered by the Office of Youth Affairs.
Employee Numbers (Full -Time Equivalents)
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, on page
B-293, you will note that there are 87 full -time equivalent positions in the Ministry of Youth, Social Development and Seniors Headquarters for fiscal year 2025/26. This covers four full -time equivalents for Headquarters
Administration; 11 full -time equivalents in Ageing and
Disability Services; 19 full- time equivalents employ ed
with the K. Margaret Carter Centre; one full-time equivalents within Policy Development; and 52 full -time
equivalents for the Office of Youth Affairs.
Performance Measures
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, performance measures for sections in the Ministry Headquarters are outlined on pages B -294 through B -296.
Madam Chairman, that concludes my budget
presentation, completely, for Head 86.
[Laughter]
note that the Minister [Tinee] Furbert, of Youth, Social
Development and Seniors is in the Chamber. Thank
you, Minister Furbert.
[Committee of Supply, continuing]
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Thank you.
Madam Chairman, the breakdown of the Ministry’s grants can be seen on page C -21 of the Estimate
Book.
In the fiscal year 2025/26, the Ministry’s following charities and organi sations will receive a grant from
the Ministry of Youth, Social Development and Seniors
to provide our community with the resources and social
services needed to support our vulnerable population
groups:
• Grant s to External Bodies has been allocated
$220,000.
• Youth Organi sations , $130,000.
• Age Concern , $25,000.
• Matilda Smith Williams and Lorraine’s Nursing
Home, $1,170,000.
• Women’s Resource Centre , $75,000.
• Centre Against Abuse, $150,000.
• Care of the Blind, $30,000.
• Meals on Wheels , $50,000 through the lunch
service of Meals on Wheels.
• Salvation Army , $550,000.
• The Summerhaven facility , $600,000.
• The Packwood Nursing Home, $ 350,000.
• HOME , $70,000.
• Tomorrow’s Voices $30,000.
Subjective Analysis of Current Account Estimates
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, I will now
present the combined subjective analysis of current account estimates for the Ministry Headquarters as found on page B -292 of the Estimates Book.
Salaries
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the
budget allocated for salaries is $4,880,000, in the fiscal year 2025/26, an increase of $651,000. This salary al-location covers the Ministry’s 87 full -time equivalents,
found on page B -293. The salary growth reflects increases in staff due to new social sector programmes,
additional employee costs as a result of expanded hours of the day care programme at the K. Margaret
Carter Centre and additional funding for negotiated sal-ary uplifts for 2025/26.
Wages
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the increase in the budget allocation for wages of $392,000 supports a cost -of-living increase for non- unionised
youth programme coordinators, programme supervi-sors, and programme [workers], community workers, as well as additional funding for two supervisors, all of
whom are employed within the Office of Youth Affairs. As well, extra funding has been appropriated for wage uplifts for unionised industrial employees.
Training
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, $56,000
has been allocated to facilitate professional training for employees during fiscal year 2025/26, representing an
increase of $43,000. This increase is due to Ageing and Disability Services funding a four -day joint safety training c ourse to include other government departments in
the forensic interviewing of older persons.
Transport and Travel
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the
$3,000 budgeted for transport for fiscal year 2025/26 is
on par with the prior year. The increase of $12,000 for
travel is budgeted to cover overseas travel for conferences and technical meetings.
Communications
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, communications, inclusive of phones, courier and postal costs,
is budgeted at $128,000 for fiscal year 2025/26, indicating an increase of $7,000. The increase reflects new expenses for telephone rentals and cell phones for the
Youth Policy section, as well as modest increases by
the Ministry HQ and the Youth Office.
Advertising and Promotion
318 5 June 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda Senate Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, advertising and promotion costs increased by $39,000. This increase is attributed to various planned marketing campaigns [by Ageing and Disability Services] on financial
abuse and scams committed against vulnerable per-sons; and by the Office of Youth Affai rs to promote
year-round recreational and social experiences within
the Community [Centres].
Professional Services
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, professional services of $1,658,000 for fiscal year 2025/26,
increased by $515,000. This increased level of funding
reflects the allocation of monies to fill a social sector
gap and provide specialist domestic abuse [perpetrator] treatment services.
Monies are also included to advance planning
and implementation of the National Seniors and LongTerm Care Strategy by the Ministry and also funding for
case management coverage and welfare guardian sup-port needed by Ageing and Disability Services.
Rentals
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, $235,000
was budgeted for rentals, an increase of $1,000. This increase represents a reduction in equipment rentals, offset by an increase in rented facilities to host workshops and conferences by the new Youth Policy section [and] the Youth Office.
Repair and Maintenance
Sen. Lindsay Simmons : Madam Chairman, in fiscal
year 2025/26, repair and maintenance has been allo-cated $209,000, or $41,000 more than the budget allo-cation for fiscal year 2024[/25]. This increase in funding
covers the cost of a variety of repair and maintenance
expenses anti cipated by the Community Centres including but not limited to industrial cleaning of floors, minor interior building repairs, pest control, and equipment maintenance. Also, increased funds have been
allocated to maintain an ageing bus operated by the K. Margaret Carter Centre.
Insurance
Sen. Lindsay Simmons : Madam Chairman, $72,000
is budgeted for insurance costs for fiscal year 2025/26.
The reduction [in costs] of $42,000 is representative of
a decline in the number of clients at the K. Margaret
Carter Centre who require HIP health insurance coverage.
Energy
Sen. Lindsay Simmons : Madam Chairman, energy
costs increased by $27,000 to $181,000. This increase will cover the costs of electricity for the Youth Office which recently moved from a shared rental space to its
own office.
Clothing, Uniforms and Laundry
Sen. Lindsay Simmons : Madam Chairman, costs for
clothing, uniforms and laundry account for $12,000.
The marginal increase of $1,000 will cover the costs to
replenish uniform shirts, jackets and protective wear for
the caretaker groundsman and community programme staff.
Materials and Supplies
Sen. Lindsay Simmons : Madam Chairman, $417,000
has been allocated for materials and supplies for fiscal
year 2025/26. This increase of $160,000 reflects the
costs of added social sector programmes, such as vocational supplies and equipment for the new Senior Intellectual Disab ility day care programme at the K. Margaret Carter Centre; sport and fitness equipment, edu-cational supplies, and vocational hardware for the extended day care programmes at both the central and
western [zone] Community Centres; and recreational
supplies to facilitate the Conference to Consultation
held by the Office of Youth Affairs. The increased costs will also cover supplies needed by the Youth Policy
section.
Equipment
Sen. Lindsay Simmons : Madam Chairman, equipment expenses have an allocation of $26,000, a reduc-tion of $16,000 from fiscal year 2024/25. Refurbishment works to fire and safety systems at the three community centres were completed in fiscal year 2024/25,
and thus only maintenance works needed to be budgeted for this year.
Other Expenses
Sen. Lindsay Simmons : Madam Chairman, $186,000
has been allocated for other expenses, which is an in-crease of $166,000 above fiscal year 2024/25. This in-crease will support new social sector programmes such
as [Ageing and Disabilities Services’] Seniors Hardship
fund, which wi ll cover the costs of food, medication, utility bills or short -term housing for vulnerable persons in
a crisis; and the central and western zone Community Centres will provide meals during their extended day
[care] programmes.
Grants and Contributions
Sen. Lindsay Simmons : Madam Chairman, the allocation for grants and contributions for fiscal year 2025/26 is $3,825,000, an increase of $620,000. The
increased budget supports additional [grant] funding to
Bermuda Senate youth organisations offered by the Office of Youth Affairs, and new funding for dementia care navigation and
intervention services offered by the Ministry. Also, grant
funding for Teen Services and Teen Haven has shifted
from the Department of Child and Family Services to the Ministry Headquarters.
Revenue Summary
Sen. Lindsay Simmons : Madam Chairman, revenue
summary, page B -292. The majority of the $643,000 in
revenue earnings reflect after -school vouchers purchased, and online payments by parents and guardians to have their children participate in the after -school programmes offered by the Office of Youth Affairs.
Employee Numbers (Full -Time Equivalents)
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, on page
B-293, you will note that there are 87 full -time equivalent positions in the Ministry of Youth, Social Development and Seniors Headquarters for fiscal year 2025/26. This covers four full -time equivalents for Headquarters
Administration; 11 full -time equivalents in Ageing and
Disability Services; 19 full- time equivalents employ ed
with the K. Margaret Carter Centre; one full-time equivalents within Policy Development; and 52 full -time
equivalents for the Office of Youth Affairs.
Performance Measures
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, performance measures for sections in the Ministry Headquarters are outlined on pages B -294 through B -296.
Madam Chairman, that concludes my budget
presentation, completely, for Head 86.
[Laughter]
The Chairman Chairman
Thank you, Junior Minister Senator Simmons. I apologise once again. Did you receive any questions in advance? Sen. Lindsay Simmons: No.
The Chairman Chairman
Okay. Do any . . . Senator Foley. I guess we will start with you and then proceed with any other Senators who wish to comment on these heads. Senator Foley. Sen. Maurice Foley: Thank you, Madam Chairman. Thank you, Junior Minister. Please accept my apology on that. Should I …
Okay.
Do any . . . Senator Foley. I guess we will start
with you and then proceed with any other Senators who wish to comment on these heads.
Senator Foley.
Sen. Maurice Foley: Thank you, Madam Chairman.
Thank you, Junior Minister. Please accept my apology
on that.
Should I repeat the first question that I had regarding the—
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Yes, please.
Sen. Maurice Foley: Repeat the question. Okay.
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Yes, please.
Sen. Maurice Foley: So, it was regarding the Ministry
allocating $150,000 to continue the dementia care pilot
programme which has supported approximately 111
seniors since October 2023. Can the Junior Minister tell
us, What is the long- term vision for this pilot programme
and how will outcomes be used to justify a full -scale
implementation of this programme ?
And I do have maybe three supplementals after that. Just let me know how you want it to—
Do any . . . Senator Foley. I guess we will start
with you and then proceed with any other Senators who wish to comment on these heads.
Senator Foley.
Sen. Maurice Foley: Thank you, Madam Chairman.
Thank you, Junior Minister. Please accept my apology
on that.
Should I repeat the first question that I had regarding the—
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Yes, please.
Sen. Maurice Foley: Repeat the question. Okay.
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Yes, please.
Sen. Maurice Foley: So, it was regarding the Ministry
allocating $150,000 to continue the dementia care pilot
programme which has supported approximately 111
seniors since October 2023. Can the Junior Minister tell
us, What is the long- term vision for this pilot programme
and how will outcomes be used to justify a full -scale
implementation of this programme ?
And I do have maybe three supplementals after that. Just let me know how you want it to—
The Chairman Chairman
Senator Simmons, do you wish for Senator Foley to ask all of his questions or to re-spond— Sen. Lindsay Simmons: I can respond to this one right now. Sen. Maurice Foley: Great. Thank you. Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Actually, ask your next question and then I will respond.
The Chairman Chairman
Yes. Sen. Maurice Foley: All right. So, can the Junior Minister also . . . well, let’s see here. Has an external evaluation on a data review been conducted to determine its effectiveness for this particular dementia care pilot programme?
The Chairman Chairman
Thank you. Senator Simmons. Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Okay. So, to answer your first question, the pilot has shifted from a six -month funding to an annual grant with increased funding to help meet the need. Evaluation of the programme is ongoing thus the me tric established to demonstrate impact in …
Thank you.
Senator Simmons.
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Okay. So, to answer your first
question, the pilot has shifted from a six -month funding
to an annual grant with increased funding to help meet
the need. Evaluation of the programme is ongoing thus
the me tric established to demonstrate impact in areas
such as caregiving stress, caregiving confidence and knowledge, hospitalisation of participants and actions
around advanced planning. The work on dementia in-tegrated care pathways will help to further define future
directions of how to adv ance the programme in a sustainable manner within our health and social care system.
This Government realises the need for capacity building for [the] dementia care pilot programme and to be able to provide services to more clients . Therefore, we have increased the grant this fiscal year from $48,000 to $150,000 as critical needs were identified
for more funding to facilitate increased proactive frontline service provisions to meet growing community demands. This will also enable Nor thStar Dementia now
aligned with Dementia Bermuda to pursue critical,
timely advocacy initiatives and proact ive and cost -
320 5 June 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda Senate effective programme development to be more effective
to meet the community needs in the future as numbers
are expected to increase significantly along with the
ageing population. The increase in the grant will enable
further development of sustainable . . . multi- disciplinary service provisions required to meet the complex
care needs presented by this vulnerable population.
We also have annual reports of the dementia
care pilot programme which share the outcome of this
programme.
Senator Simmons.
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Okay. So, to answer your first
question, the pilot has shifted from a six -month funding
to an annual grant with increased funding to help meet
the need. Evaluation of the programme is ongoing thus
the me tric established to demonstrate impact in areas
such as caregiving stress, caregiving confidence and knowledge, hospitalisation of participants and actions
around advanced planning. The work on dementia in-tegrated care pathways will help to further define future
directions of how to adv ance the programme in a sustainable manner within our health and social care system.
This Government realises the need for capacity building for [the] dementia care pilot programme and to be able to provide services to more clients . Therefore, we have increased the grant this fiscal year from $48,000 to $150,000 as critical needs were identified
for more funding to facilitate increased proactive frontline service provisions to meet growing community demands. This will also enable Nor thStar Dementia now
aligned with Dementia Bermuda to pursue critical,
timely advocacy initiatives and proact ive and cost -
320 5 June 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda Senate effective programme development to be more effective
to meet the community needs in the future as numbers
are expected to increase significantly along with the
ageing population. The increase in the grant will enable
further development of sustainable . . . multi- disciplinary service provisions required to meet the complex
care needs presented by this vulnerable population.
We also have annual reports of the dementia
care pilot programme which share the outcome of this
programme.
The Chairman Chairman
Thank you. Senator Foley. Sen. Maurice Foley: Yes, thank you so much for your answer. One more question on this particular subject for the Junior Minister. Will this programme expand beyond seniors to include younger individuals with dementia? I did a little bit of research on this question because I …
Thank you.
Senator Foley.
Sen. Maurice Foley: Yes, thank you so much for your
answer.
One more question on this particular subject
for the Junior Minister. Will this programme expand beyond seniors to include younger individuals with dementia? I did a little bit of research on this question because I know in the UK there are approximately 70,800 people under the age of 65 who suffer from an early
onset of dementia. So, I am just wondering if this programme will expand beyond seniors.
Senator Foley.
Sen. Maurice Foley: Yes, thank you so much for your
answer.
One more question on this particular subject
for the Junior Minister. Will this programme expand beyond seniors to include younger individuals with dementia? I did a little bit of research on this question because I know in the UK there are approximately 70,800 people under the age of 65 who suffer from an early
onset of dementia. So, I am just wondering if this programme will expand beyond seniors.
The Chairman Chairman
Senator Simmons, would you like to respond to this question or Senator Foley do you have— Sen. Lindsay Simmons: I can respond to the question for that one.
The Chairman Chairman
Yes. Okay. So, this is your response to your second question, Senator Foley. Sen. Maurice Foley: Thank you. Sen. Lindsay Simmons: The question was, Has an external daily review been conducted to determine effectiveness? ADS is responsible for evaluating the programme with the Ministry Headquarters. The programme has been based …
Yes. Okay.
So, this is your response to your second question, Senator Foley.
Sen. Maurice Foley: Thank you.
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: The question was, Has an
external daily review been conducted to determine effectiveness? ADS is responsible for evaluating the programme with the Ministry Headquarters. The programme has been based upon international recognised
programmes and metrics hav e been selected in accordance with such. The programme is not tied to age
and recognises early onset dementia as eligible clients.
So, this is your response to your second question, Senator Foley.
Sen. Maurice Foley: Thank you.
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: The question was, Has an
external daily review been conducted to determine effectiveness? ADS is responsible for evaluating the programme with the Ministry Headquarters. The programme has been based upon international recognised
programmes and metrics hav e been selected in accordance with such. The programme is not tied to age
and recognises early onset dementia as eligible clients.
The Chairman Chairman
Thank you. Senator Foley, do you have any further questions? Sen. Maurice Foley: I do have a question regarding senior day care. And that would be still on the same head, Head 86, under the Ageing and Disability Services. Regarding the senior day care facility at Gilbert Institute, with the …
Thank you.
Senator Foley, do you have any further questions?
Sen. Maurice Foley: I do have a question regarding
senior day care. And that would be still on the same
head, Head 86, under the Ageing and Disability Services. Regarding the senior day care facility at Gilbert
Institute, with the $1.5 million budgeted for architectural designs, how does the Ministry intend to ensure the
proposed day care centre aligns with current gaps in
elder care? The Chairman: That’s your question, Senator Foley?
Sen. Maurice Foley: That is my question.
Senator Foley, do you have any further questions?
Sen. Maurice Foley: I do have a question regarding
senior day care. And that would be still on the same
head, Head 86, under the Ageing and Disability Services. Regarding the senior day care facility at Gilbert
Institute, with the $1.5 million budgeted for architectural designs, how does the Ministry intend to ensure the
proposed day care centre aligns with current gaps in
elder care? The Chairman: That’s your question, Senator Foley?
Sen. Maurice Foley: That is my question.
The Chairman Chairman
Senator Simmons, would you like to answer now, or do you prefer for further questions? Sen. Lindsay Simmons: You can ask another question. Sen. Maurice Foley: Okay. Question number two is, Will seniors or caregivers and even NGOs be involved in the facility design process? That’s my second question. Thank …
Senator Simmons, would you like to
answer now, or do you prefer for further questions?
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: You can ask another question.
Sen. Maurice Foley: Okay.
Question number two is, Will seniors or caregivers and even NGOs be involved in the facility design
process? That’s my second question. Thank you,
Madam Chairman. And in the design process of the day
care facility at Gilbert Institute.
answer now, or do you prefer for further questions?
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: You can ask another question.
Sen. Maurice Foley: Okay.
Question number two is, Will seniors or caregivers and even NGOs be involved in the facility design
process? That’s my second question. Thank you,
Madam Chairman. And in the design process of the day
care facility at Gilbert Institute.
The Chairman Chairman
You can ask any further questions that you may have, Senator Foley. Sen. Maurice Foley: Okay. The next question is, Has a needs assessment been completed to justify this specific location and use? That’s my second question. And then I have one more question. Is there a capital commitment or …
You can ask any further questions that
you may have, Senator Foley.
Sen. Maurice Foley: Okay.
The next question is, Has a needs assessment
been completed to justify this specific location and use?
That’s my second question. And then I have one more
question. Is there a capital commitment or timeline to
move beyond design to actual construction. That’s my
final question on that.
Thank you, Madam Chairman.
you may have, Senator Foley.
Sen. Maurice Foley: Okay.
The next question is, Has a needs assessment
been completed to justify this specific location and use?
That’s my second question. And then I have one more
question. Is there a capital commitment or timeline to
move beyond design to actual construction. That’s my
final question on that.
Thank you, Madam Chairman.
The Chairman Chairman
Thank you. Senator Wight. Sen. John Wight: Thank you, Madam Chairman. I just have one question. So, when I look at this Head 86, as with any head of any Ministry in the Budget Book, for me, I look at not just how much is being allocated but are we …
Thank you.
Senator Wight.
Sen. John Wight: Thank you, Madam Chairman.
I just have one question. So, when I look at this
Head 86, as with any head of any Ministry in the Budget
Book, for me, I look at not just how much is being allocated but are we spending it appropriately, effectively
and wisely. And when I look at the per formance
measures on page B -294 and B -295, we capture a lot
of information about things we do. Like the number of
surveys, and the number of . . . I can’t get any feel for
the outcomes that we achieved.
I am on a board ( I mean, it is public knowledge)
of the Bermuda Diabetes Association. So, by way of
contrast, when somebody walks in the front door with diabetes, we track that person’s progress. Are we making a difference in that person’s life? When people donate to the association, we can say with hand on heart
that we know we are making differences in people’s lives.
When I look at the performance measures, I really can’t get any gauge for how effective we are in our
community for the funds we are allocating. So, you
know, last year we allocated $11.3 million to this Ministry. We are allocating $2.6 million more this year; so,
$14.1 million. A year from now, if we sat here how would we be able to measure whether we are making
a difference in the lives of our youth, seniors, and those
Bermuda Senate to whom we are allocating these funds towards? So I
guess that is my question.
Senator Wight.
Sen. John Wight: Thank you, Madam Chairman.
I just have one question. So, when I look at this
Head 86, as with any head of any Ministry in the Budget
Book, for me, I look at not just how much is being allocated but are we spending it appropriately, effectively
and wisely. And when I look at the per formance
measures on page B -294 and B -295, we capture a lot
of information about things we do. Like the number of
surveys, and the number of . . . I can’t get any feel for
the outcomes that we achieved.
I am on a board ( I mean, it is public knowledge)
of the Bermuda Diabetes Association. So, by way of
contrast, when somebody walks in the front door with diabetes, we track that person’s progress. Are we making a difference in that person’s life? When people donate to the association, we can say with hand on heart
that we know we are making differences in people’s lives.
When I look at the performance measures, I really can’t get any gauge for how effective we are in our
community for the funds we are allocating. So, you
know, last year we allocated $11.3 million to this Ministry. We are allocating $2.6 million more this year; so,
$14.1 million. A year from now, if we sat here how would we be able to measure whether we are making
a difference in the lives of our youth, seniors, and those
Bermuda Senate to whom we are allocating these funds towards? So I
guess that is my question.
The Chairman Chairman
Thank you, Senator Wight. Senator Simmons, do you want to take other questions or are you prepared to respond? Sen. Lindsay Simmons: I can respond and then if there are more questions I can take them afterwards.
The Chairman Chairman
Okay. Sen. Lindsay Simmons: So, yes, consultation will take place with all stakeholder groups for the design of this facility. The question was about the senior day care and how does the Ministry propose to align with the current gaps in elder care. ADS works closely with other entities responsible …
Okay.
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: So, yes, consultation will
take place with all stakeholder groups for the design of
this facility.
The question was about the senior day care
and how does the Ministry propose to align with the current gaps in elder care. ADS works closely with other
entities responsible for service regulations and have
developed the programme based on gap identifications
that occur under the National Senior Strategy and through the ongoing LTC working group.
If somebody has other questions, I could take
these questions as well.
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: So, yes, consultation will
take place with all stakeholder groups for the design of
this facility.
The question was about the senior day care
and how does the Ministry propose to align with the current gaps in elder care. ADS works closely with other
entities responsible for service regulations and have
developed the programme based on gap identifications
that occur under the National Senior Strategy and through the ongoing LTC working group.
If somebody has other questions, I could take
these questions as well.
The Chairman Chairman
Do any other . . . would any other Senators like to speak to any of the heads? Senator Foley. Sen. Maurice Foley: Yes. This is Senator Foley. I actually . . . Senator, I'm sorry. Yes, Senator Wight actually answered my final question. So that would be it for …
The Chairman Chairman
Senator Wight answered your final question or . . . Sen. Maurice Foley: He asked the final question that I had.
The Chairman Chairman
Okay. Thank you. Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Would you give me a couple of minutes? [Pause]
The Chairman Chairman
Yes. Thank you, Senator Simmons. While we're waiting, just a quick time check. It is now 3:56 pm and we have left remaining Heads 23 and 55. Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Okay. I have some answers for you.
The Chairman Chairman
Thank you. Sen. Lindsay Simmons: So, measuring impact of funding. Surveys are undertaken after each programme in terms of effectiveness of youth programmes and for the dementia part of the programme of which [information] was shared with the ministerial statements. So, it is already in the public domain. Another question …
Thank you.
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: So, measuring impact of
funding. Surveys are undertaken after each programme in terms of effectiveness of youth programmes and for the dementia part of the programme
of which [information] was shared with the ministerial
statements. So, it is already in the public domain.
Another question was, Has a needs assessment occurred [regarding] the day care sites? The day
care sites were reviewed by the clinical and technical
teams with Senior Care and Knowledge and Programme Development as well as Public Works to identify if it is a suitable location for the day programme,
recognising renovations are required.
One of the gaps identified is when COVID -19
occurred. Most government day care programmes had to shut down because it was not recommended [for]
seniors living in the community within residence. This
will not have to happen again with the senior day care.
The senior day care will also have a dementia- focus ,
particularly with a notion for the growing demand of dementia care.
Did I miss any questions? Or was . . .
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: So, measuring impact of
funding. Surveys are undertaken after each programme in terms of effectiveness of youth programmes and for the dementia part of the programme
of which [information] was shared with the ministerial
statements. So, it is already in the public domain.
Another question was, Has a needs assessment occurred [regarding] the day care sites? The day
care sites were reviewed by the clinical and technical
teams with Senior Care and Knowledge and Programme Development as well as Public Works to identify if it is a suitable location for the day programme,
recognising renovations are required.
One of the gaps identified is when COVID -19
occurred. Most government day care programmes had to shut down because it was not recommended [for]
seniors living in the community within residence. This
will not have to happen again with the senior day care.
The senior day care will also have a dementia- focus ,
particularly with a notion for the growing demand of dementia care.
Did I miss any questions? Or was . . .
The Chairman Chairman
I believe there was a question about outcomes. How will outcome and effectiveness be measured? Sen. Lindsay Simmons: So, I did answer that, for measuring the impact upon surveys, like I said, it was shared in ministerial statements. I can read the answer again if you want. But I did …
I believe there was a question about
outcomes. How will outcome and effectiveness be
measured?
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: So, I did answer that, for
measuring the impact upon surveys, like I said, it was
shared in ministerial statements. I can read the answer
again if you want. But I did state it already. Surveys are
undertaken after each programme in terms of effectiveness of youth programmes and for the dementia pilot
programme of which information was shared in a min-isterial statement. So, it is in the public domain.
outcomes. How will outcome and effectiveness be
measured?
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: So, I did answer that, for
measuring the impact upon surveys, like I said, it was
shared in ministerial statements. I can read the answer
again if you want. But I did state it already. Surveys are
undertaken after each programme in terms of effectiveness of youth programmes and for the dementia pilot
programme of which information was shared in a min-isterial statement. So, it is in the public domain.
The Chairman Chairman
Thank you, Senator Simmons. Are there any further questions arising from this head? Senator Wight. Sen. John Wight: I would just ask them that it be included as a performance measure in . . . it's not included and may be in a ministerial statement that comes up at some …
Thank you, Senator Simmons.
Are there any further questions arising from
this head?
Senator Wight.
Sen. John Wight: I would just ask them that it be included as a performance measure in . . . it's not included and may be in a ministerial statement that
comes up at some point in the year, but in terms of this
budget performance measure, I don't see it included
anywhere. So again, I would just think it would be added here if it's . . . if this is an important determination
of how we determine value for spending $14 million, I
would think it would be a performance measure in this
Budget Book. That would be my comment but nothing . . . no further questions. Thank you.
Are there any further questions arising from
this head?
Senator Wight.
Sen. John Wight: I would just ask them that it be included as a performance measure in . . . it's not included and may be in a ministerial statement that
comes up at some point in the year, but in terms of this
budget performance measure, I don't see it included
anywhere. So again, I would just think it would be added here if it's . . . if this is an important determination
of how we determine value for spending $14 million, I
would think it would be a performance measure in this
Budget Book. That would be my comment but nothing . . . no further questions. Thank you.
The Chairman Chairman
Thank you. I noted Senator Wight. Senator Simmons, would you like to respond? Sen. Lindsay Simmons: One second. Senator Wight, thank you for that. Yes, we accept your point, and we will take it under advisement. So, thank you. 322 5 June 2025 Official Hansard Report Bermuda Senate The Chairman: …
Thank you.
I noted Senator Wight.
Senator Simmons, would you like to respond?
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: One second.
Senator Wight, thank you for that. Yes, we accept your point, and we will take it under advisement.
So, thank you.
322 5 June 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda Senate The Chairman: Are there any further comments under
this head?
No. Thank you.
Senator Simmons.
HEAD 23 —DEPARTMENT OF CHILD AND FAMILY
SERVICES
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Thank you.
Madam Chairman, I now wish to present fiscal
year 2025/26 Estimates of Expenditure for Head 23, the Department of Child and Family Services which are
found on pages B -297 through B -303 of the Estimate
Book.
The mission of the Department [ of Child and
Family Services ] is Protecting children by strengthening families . The objectives of the department are found
on page B -297.
Madam Chairman, on page B -298 of the Estimates Book, a total of $21,133,000 has been allocated
for Head 23 for fiscal year 2025/26. This represents an increase of [$1,453,000] , or 7 per cent.
Madam Chairman, the d epartment is responsible for promoting and protecting the best interests and social well- being of children, adolescents, and their
families and meets these responsibilities with the operations of five programmes:
• Programme 2301— Services to Children and
Young Persons
• Programme 2302— Services to Individuals
and Families
• Programme 2303—Residential Treatment Services
• Programme 2304— Administration
• Programme 2305—The Mirrors Programme
Madam Chairman , I will address each programme and business unit for the department as set
out on page B -298.
Programme 2301, Services to Children and Young
Persons
Hon. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman , business
unit 33010, the Happy Valley Child Care Centre has a
budget of $1,200,000 for fiscal year 2025/26. The out-put measures for the Happy Valley Child Care Centre
are found on page B -301 of the Estimates Book.
Madam Chairman, Happy Valley Child Care
Centre is the only Government -operated child care facility on the Island, which provides high quality child care for a maximum of 44 children whose ages range
from three months to four years of age. Priority is given
to children r eferred by helping agencies such as the
Department of Child and Family Services, Teen Services, the Department of Health, the Child [ Development ] Programme and the Department of Financial Assistance. These agencies along with families experi-encing various challenges account for 60 per cent of
the Centre’s intake. The Centre offers enrichment programmes that
encourage family and community involvement and builds upon child development.
Madam Chairman, the estimated revenue for
the fiscal year 2025/26 school year as shown on page B-299 is $192,000.
Madam Chairman , in July 2024, 17 children
graduated from the programme and were all well pre-pared to attend preschool. Their accomplishments
were celebrated with a school leaving ceremony at the
Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute.
Madam Chairman , in fiscal year 2025/26,
Happy Valley Child Care Centre will continue to uphold
its commitment to partnering with community resources, including the Child Development Programme
(CDP) , the Department of Health, and Fire and Life
Safety Associates.
Madam Chairman, I will turn to programme
2302, Services to Individuals and Families, found on page B -298.
Programme 2302, Services to Individuals
and Families
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman , the activities covered under programme 2302 are:
• Business unit [33020] —Investigating and
Screening
• Business unit [33030] —Foster Care
• Business unit 33200 —Counselling and Life
Skills
• Business unit 33240 —Child Safeguarding
Madam Chairman, the estimate for these three
business units for fiscal year 2025/ 26 is $6,198,000,
which represents a decrease of $37,000.
Madam Chairman, the Intake, Investigation
and Assessment section is responsible for providing
comprehensive investigations and assessments to children who are referred for services. The 2025/ 26 budget
estimate for business unit 33020 is $2,245,000, a decrease of 11 per cent .
Madam Chairman, the Department of Child
and Family Services provides services and support for
children and families referred for abuse or neglect. The
department is committed to partnering with stakeholders to promote the safety and health of families while
protecting children from abuse and neglect.
All referrals that are made to the d epartment
are screened to determine if they meet the threshold for
abuse and/or neglect utili sing the Structured Decision
Making Assessment tools. The performance measures
for intake and assessments can be found on page B -
301 of the Estimates Book.
Madam Chairman, in 2024, the Investigation
team received 1,210 new referrals. This is an increase of 204, or 20 per cent , when 1,006 new referrals were
reported. Mandated reporters [ referred] 1,072, and 138
were referred from other sources in the community.
Bermuda Senate Foster Care, Business Unit 33030
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the Foster Care section of the Department of Child and Family
Services is responsible for providing alternative living arrangements for children under the age of 18 years old
who need out -of-home placement. The budget estimate for business unit 33030 for 2025 /26 is
$2,672,000. This represents an increase of $288,000.
Madam Chairman, during 2024, a total of 61
children occupied foster care beds at some point during
the year. This represents an increase of three children
from the prior year. The team was also responsible for
case management duties for the children’s birth families and foster families.
During the past year, the Foster Care Programme served a total of seven therapeutic foster [ children] . The children in this category have a variety of
physical, cognitive, emotional and behavioural challenges.
Out of those seven children, two were referred
to overseas facilities for a comprehensive assessment and were recommended for further overseas placement. By the end of 2024, a total of nine children left
the Foster Care Programme. Three were reunified with
a parent; Three were transferred to Residential Treatment Services; and three aged out of the Foster Care
system.
Madam Chairman, i n May 2024, Foster Care
Month, the foster [ care] team held the Annual Appreciation Tea for Bermuda’s Foster Parents.
The Foster Care Programme ended in 2024
with Christmas gift donations for all foster children.
Items were generously donated from anonymous mem-bers of the public and the RenRe Insurance Company.
Madam Chairman, the department acknowledges the foster parents of Bermuda. These are our
unsung heroes who provide loving, stable homes to
children who have experienced significant trauma as a
result of abuse and/or neglect. Every day, they make a
foster child’s life better with their numerous acts of [ care
and] kindness.
Counselling and Life Skills , Business Unit 33200
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the purpose of the Counselling and Life Skills [CLS] business
unit is to advance and promote the emotional well -being of youth up to 18 years of age and their families.
The budget for this business unit [ 33200] for fiscal year
2025 /26 is $1,181,000. This represents a decrease of
$8,000, or 1 per cent .
Madam Chairman, several trends were identified in 2024 amongst our youth that included:
• Substance referrals for vaping and marijuana
are still an issue with young people. This may
be affected by legalisation in some jurisdictions despite this population being minors and their
lack of understanding of the dangers of vaping. • Grief counselling for children who have lost relatives as well as relationships with parents because of divorce.
• A growing need for co- parenting support based
on issues of custody and divorce.
• Younger children being referred with complex
neurodiversity behavioural issues, such as
ADHD, ASD, who require a multidisciplinary
team approach to address various needs.
• Parents requiring therapy support who themselves have experienced childhood trauma
that is impacting them in adulthood.
• Younger children requiring therapy beyond talk
therapy, such as play therapy, interventions to
assist with self -regulation of emotions, such as
somatic therapy, which focuses on the body and how emotions appear within the body, and
movement therapy .
• A need for parenting skills services that help
parents understand different developmental
stages and what is appropriate behaviour during those stages.
These trends highlight the growing need for
counselling resources to support parents, children, and
adolescents that are affordable, evidence- based and
relatable.
Child Safeguarding, Business Unit 33250
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, this year,
$100,000 will fund the C hild Safeguarding programme,
business unit 33250. As per the Child Safeguarding [(Miscellaneous Amendments)] Act 2019, children who
are victims of sexual offences or who are convicted of
sexual offences and serious personal injury receive
both physical and psychological services, which trans-late to costs incurred for psychosexual assessments
and counselling servi ces.
Last year, seven children received psychosexual assessments. Six were victims of sexual offences
and one was a perpetrator. All children subsequently
received associated counselling [ services] . One parent
received a comprehensive parenting capacity assess-ment.
Programme 2303, Residential Treatment Services
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, programme 2303, Residential Treatment Services found
on page B -298 includes Family Preservation, Brangman Home, Youth Development Centre, Observatory
Cottage, the Psycho- Educational Programme, Youth
Residential Treatment and Independent Living.
This programme has a budget allocation of
$10,388,000. This represents an increase of $1,618,000, or 18 per cent from the [ financial ] year
2024/25 budget allocation.
Family Preservation, Business Unit 33060
324 5 June 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda Senate Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the
budget estimate for business unit 33060 for fiscal year
2025/26 is $3,836,000. The estimate is 121 per cent
more than fiscal year 2024/25. This significant increase is related to the enhancement and expansion of social services provided to the community for our high- risk
families.
Madam Chairman, from January 2024 to December 2024, the Family Preservation Team served a
combined total of 147 families and 257 children. This is
an 8 per cent increase in families and a 7 per cent increase in children served over the prior year.
Caseload complexities and risk levels remained high throughout 2024, thus requiring a higher
number of face- to-face contacts, multiple court appearances, family conferences and consultations with com-munity and government stakeholders.
Madam Chairman, in 2024, Department of
Child and Family Services ( DCFS ) continued with its
commitment to increase the skills of its front -line Family
Preservation workers in engaging and meeting the needs of clients. Officers participated in [Staff] Safety
Training, Mental Health First Aid for Adolescents and
four attended the 39
th Annual International Conference
on Child and Family Maltreatment.
The Family Preservation Team continues to
strive to provide effective services to children and families. Performance improvement is an ongoing endeavour, thus enhancing the opportunity for improved client
outcomes.
Madam Chairman, the budget allocation for
business unit 33070, Brangman Home, is $1,195,000,
a decrease of $62,000, or 5 per cent.
Madam Chairman, business unit 33080, the
Youth Development Centre’s budget allocation is
$306,000. This is an increase of $18,000, or 6 per cent.
The Observatory Cottage that falls under business unit 33090, has a budget of [ $1,172,000] , a decrease of $311,000, or 21 per cent.
Madam Chairman, Residential Treatment Services (RTS) provides group living intervention services
to children between the ages of 12 and 18 years old.
These are adolescents who are deemed to be at risk in the community and require care and protection in a safe and structured residential environment. All children
placed in this service have had their situation and circumstances considered by the Family Court, where it
has been deemed appropriate for them to be placed on
a care order and as such, become the responsibility of
the Director of Child and Family Services.
Madam Chairman, RTS met the performance
targets with 100 per cent of residents given independent treatment plans, 100 per cent had service plans
and 100 per cent of residents had individual crisis management plans. The team focused on ensuring all plans
were ali gned to offer the best care for residents and
continue to partner with key community stakeholders
such as the Bermuda Police Service, Department of
Education, Child and Adolescent Services, the Gang Violence Reduction Team, Department of Court Services, Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Bermuda and the
Mirrors Programme.
Psycho -Educational Programme, Business Unit 33100
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the Psycho-Educational (Psycho- Ed) programme was developed to clinically address children who could not be effectively treated in Bermuda or those who had exhausted all available local therapeutic/treatment services. The budget [estimate] for business unit [33100]
is $2,119,000. This represents less than a 1 per cent
increase over 2024/25.
Madam Chairman, the Psycho- Ed Programme
provides children with protection, care, and [ nurturance] by licensed and accredited therapeutic overseas
facilities .
In the best interest of the child, the Psycho- Ed
Committee utilises an overseas service provider that
specialises primarily in providing clinical neuropsychological assessments at Huntsman Mental Health Institute (HMHI). Implementing the neuropsychological assessment at HMHI assisted DCFS in obtaining a c lear
and comprehensive understanding of the specific
needs of clients referred for an assessment.
Madam Chairman, 14 children participated in
the Psycho -Ed Programme in 2024. Four children participated in an overseas [neuropsychological ] assessment. Three children were assessed at Huntsman
Mental Health Institute (HMHI) and one child at Harbor
Point Behavioral Health. Two children completed their
neuropsychological assessments at HMHI resulting in
one child being diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, returning to the local jurisdiction for active case
management . And one child was referred for a longterm overseas therapeutic placement. One child remains at HMHI and has not completed the assessment
process. One child who completed the neuropsychological assessment process at Harbor Point Behavioral
Health was recommended for a long- term overseas
therapeutic placement.
Youth Residential Treatment , Business Unit 33110
Sen. Lindsay Simmons : Madam Chairman, business
unit 33110, Youth Residential Treatment ’s budget allocation for fiscal year 2025/26 is $1,087,000. This reflects a decrease of 13 per cent compared to fiscal year
2024/25. Madam Chairman, Youth Residential Treatment [serves ] as the administrative and professional
services arm that delivers comprehensive support, including accounting, management, counselling, and
clinical services to all residential homes and programmes. This business unit is responsible for identifying staff training needs, assessing the clinical needs of
all children within the programme, and managing facility maintenance and repair issues, which are reported
to the d irector for appropriate action.
Bermuda Senate Additionally, the unit oversees all Performance
and Quality Improvement (PQI) efforts, ensuring that
every programme within Residential Treatment Services consistently meets and maintains industry standards. During 2024, two hard- to-fill positions within
Youth Residential Treatment were successfully staffed,
strengthening the team’s capacity to deliver high- quality care and support across all programmes.
Independent Living Programme, Business Unit 33240
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, business
unit 33240, on page B -298, Independent Living Programme budget allocation for fiscal year 2025/26 is
$673,000, an increase of 4 per cent.
The Independent Living Programme (ILP) is a
pioneering initiative, offering a vital lifeline and safety net for young adults ageing out of the c are of the d irector. This year, the programme celebrated two years of
operations, providing the young adults with the support and resources necessary to successfully navigate the challenging transition into adulthood.
Madam Chairman, at the start of 2024, the Independent Living Programme housed four residents. However, one female resident was terminated due to non-compliance. Subsequently, ten referrals were received and four were rejected. By the end of the year, Independent Living Programme was at capacity with
nine residents —seven females and two males.
Two residents graduated from The Berkeley Institute. One high schooler moved to the Independent
Living Programme in July, completed summer school,
and is on the course to graduate from the CedarBridge Academy in 2025. One resident enrolled with the Adult Education School in December 2024 to obtain their
GED. Also, each resident had some form of employ-ment, whether f ull-time, part -time, summer employment, or apprenticeship. By the end of 2024, there were
three residents employed full -time, three part -time, o ne
seasonal, and two unemployed.
Madam Chairman, renovations to the Independent Living Programme staff offices and boardroom commenced in November and are progressing steadily.
These upgrades aim to enhance the functionality of staff spaces and support continued programme delivery.
In addition, the development of a new studio
apartment is underway, which will increase Independent Living Programme’s residential capacity to a total of
11 rooms. This unit has been thoughtfully designed to accommodate residents with disabilities, ensuring accessibility and inclusivity within the progra mme. When
not in use for this purpose, the studio will serve as a
transitional living space for residents who have demonstrated readiness for independent living, offering an opportunity to experience greater autonomy in the final
stages of their Independent Living Programme journey.
Programme 2305—The Mirrors Programme,
Business Unit 33140 Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the
budget allocation for the Mirrors Programme, business unit 33140 for 2025/26 is $869,000, an increase of
24 per cent. Mirrors has begun to rebuild its team since
it transitioned to the Department of Child and Family Services. A full complement of staff is expected this
year. One additional post, a Youth and Community Engagement Officer, will be funded this year and the Recruitment [Manager ] post will now be fully funded this
year for a total complement of six staff for the Mirrors Programme.
Madam Chairman, Mirrors and its partners
continue to develop the work in the Social Emotional
Development and Life Coaching areas for our community. As an example of the high level of curriculum, the
Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC )
accreditor observed the February 2025 camp, spoke
with campers, staff, volunteers, leadership campers
and parents with a positive report for re- accrediting our
partner Quantum Learning Global, which extends the
accreditation to Mirrors, producing WASC acc redite d
programming. The Mirrors team is congratulated for this accomplishment.
Madam Chairman, Mirrors enrolled 30 youth in
the October 2024 SuperCamp Senior Forum (Cohort
19) who are currently in their follow -through phase of
the programme with a life coach, with expected completion in June 2025.
Mirrors is expecting to enrol a leadership senior group ( cohort 20), in the upcoming year, of twenty -
five 14 - to 16- year-olds and five junior team leaders to
travel to Singapore for the SuperCamp Senior Forum leadership experience. The focus is to build peer lead-ership skills and harness the peer influence such t hat
they have a positive impact in their schools when they
return.
During 2024, Madam Chairman, 60 middle
school students participated in the All In! 8 Keys of Excellence [prefect ] training across the three middle
schools; 33 youth participated in the five- day SuperCamp Junior Forum workshop, and 20 youth were supported through the out -of-school suspension and drop -
in service programme.
Madam Chairman, PeerForward Bermuda
travelled overseas in 2024 with a team of 16 peer leaders, four advisors, two college coaches and two support
staff for the Mirrors -endorsed college and career readiness programmes at The Berkeley Institute and CedarBridge Academy. All trainings in the PeerForward programme received 100 per cent positive experience in
content and experience.
Madam Chairman, [172] students provided art
and digital submissions in the 8
th Annual Art and Digital
competition themed “Feels Like Home.” The upcoming
2025 theme is “Faces of Bermuda” which will showcase
student summer art.
Madam Chairman, Mirrors continues to find
ways to engage parents to attend training to build skills
for positive youth development. Madam Chairman, 384
326 5 June 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda Senate parents participated in the programme while 330 volunteers, educators and youth workers attended programming in 2024.
Madam Chairman, 86 adults provided roughly
204 service hours, and 209 youth provided roughly 656 service hours in the Mirrors Field of Learning Garden.
Students were able to engage in sustainable gardening
curricula and harvest vegetables, donating them across
the Island to seniors, group living homes and families.
Madam Chairman, I take this opportunity to
thank corporate Bermuda, the Alumni Board members
and the Mirrors team for their commitment to the development of Bermuda’s youth.
Programme 2304, Administration
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, business
unit 33120 , Administration and business unit 33130,
Grant Funding fall under p rogramme 2304 with a combined budget estimate for fiscal year 2025/26 of
$2,478,000, reflecting a decrease of $404,000 or 14 per cent.
Administration, B usiness Unit 33120
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the Administration section of DCFS is responsible for the gen-eral supervision of the sections within the department and the oversight of the Psycho- Educational Programme, the Mirrors Programme, Child Safeguarding
and Court Social work. The budget estimate for busi-ness unit 33120 for this year is $2,383,000. This reflects a 2 per cent increase.
Madam Chairman, in response to the recommendations of the SafeLives UK review, a Domestic Liaison social worker joined the Department of Child and
Family Services in April. This o fficer brings experience
as a complex needs independent domestic violence advisor and will work in partnership with the Centre
Against Abuse.
The establishment of the Multi -Agency Risk
Assessment Conference (MARAC) was another SafeLives UK recommendation, which has been in operation during the past [ two] years.
From its inception in April 2023 until December
2024 , MARAC has reviewed a total of 143 cases.
These cases include couples, families with children, and seniors/vulnerable persons who experienced family abuse.
DCFS recorded 197 investigations for neglect
in 2024, specifically related to child exposure to family violence/domestic [abuse] . This reflects an increase
from the 157 investigations recorded at the end of
2023, continuing a concerning year -over-year upward
trend.
Children exposed to domestic abuse face both
short -term and long- term challenges. Madam Chairman, it is critical to recognis e that children learn and are
shaped by their environment from birth and even in utero. The harmful effects of domestic abuse must
not be underestimated, and the community has a re-sponsibility to act.
Grant Funding, Business Unit 33130
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the
budget estimate for b usiness unit 33130 for 2025/26 is
$95,000, representing an 83 per cent decrease from
2024/25. This reduction is due to a shift of the grant allocation of $375,000 for Teen Haven and Teen Ser-vices from DCFS to the Ministry Headquarters.
Madam C hairman, $75,000 in grant funding is
to support the cross-ministry initiative and assist families in crisis through the development of coordinated,
inter-agency responses that address urgent and multifaceted needs. Madam Chairman, $20,000 has been
allocated to MARAC to cover education, promotion and
awareness about domestic violence.
Subjective Analysis of Current Account Estimates
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, I will now
present the subjective analysis of current account estimates for the Department of Child and Family Services
as found on page B -299 of the Estimates Book.
Salaries
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the
budget allocated for Salaries is $11,926,000 for fiscal
year 2025/26, an increase of $1,681,000, or 16 per
cent more than the original budget for fiscal year 2024/25.
The salary growth largely reflects increases in
FTEs to ensure that a new community -based intensive
model of intervention, i.e., the Intensive Family Preservation programme, can be implemented under the
Family Preservation section. The increase is also explained by funding for an additional full- time equivalent
for the Mirrors Programme, and one new full-time
equivalent for the Foster Care programme . Finally, negotiated salary uplifts for public officers also explain the increase for 2025/26.
Wages
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the estimate for wages is $187,000 for fiscal year 2025/26, representing an increase of $11,000 compared to fiscal
year 2024/25. This is due to the adjustment of an understated annual wage in the prior year ; however, negotiated pay uplifts for industrial employees accounted for the majority of the increase.
Other Personnel Costs
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the
budget expenditure allocated for other personnel costs
Bermuda Senate remained unchanged from fiscal year 2024/25 to fiscal
year 2025/26.
Training
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the
$2,000 increase in training expenses for fiscal year
2025/26 is representative of new, specialised onboarding training for employees within the Family Preservation section.
Transport
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, expenditure for transport has been budgeted at $70,000 for fis-cal year 2025/26, indicative of a $25,000, or 56 per
cent, increase over the prior year. The Foster Care Programme provides transportation services for children to
and from school and some after -school activities. The
section has increased its transportation budget by this
amount due to the number of children involved in sev-eral after -school activities, and sp ecial professional
services that are time- sensitiv e.
Travel
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, total
travel expenses have been budgeted at $252,000 for
fiscal year 2025/26, an increase of $6,000 over [ fiscal ]
year 2024/25. This represents minor increases in the amounts budgeted for overseas conferences and hotel costs for the Foster Care and Investigation and Screening programmes.
Communications
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, communications, inclusive of phones, courier and postal costs, are budgeted at $225,000 for fiscal year 2025/26,
which represents a $37,000, or 20 per cent , increase
over the budget allocation for fiscal year 2024/25. Ad-ditional staff hired for the new Intensive Family Preservation initiative will each require a cellular phone for
safety purposes. Also, the Counselling and Life Skills section will be issued c ellular phones during 2025/26,
as their client base has increased, and more time is anticipated to be spent at the schools and meeting clients
outside of the office. Lastly, the rise in the budget covers increased costs of local calls for the programmes
having satellite offices.
Advertising and Promotion
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the
budget of $18,000 allocated for advertising and promo-tion expenditures increased by $5,000 for fiscal year 2025/26. This is to support a planned campaign on
mandatory reporting by the Investigation and Screening section. Professional Services
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, P rofessional Services budgeted at $3,929,000 for fiscal year
2025/26, represents a decrease of $175,000. The Independent Living programme requires a security presence every night and weekends at the facility. Funding
for this security was redirected from Professional Services to the Security Equipment (Minor Equipment)
budget line in error. The necessary change will be
made to the budget.
Rentals
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the estimate for R entals for [ budget ] year 2025/26 is
$1,682,000, a decrease of $8,000 from the prior budget year. This decrease represents a minor adjustment to
the rental budget within the Independent Living programme.
Repair and Maintenance
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, for fiscal
year 2025/26, the costs of Repairs and Maintenance is
$611,000, an increase of $64,000 over fiscal year
2024/25. The Brangman Home, Observatory Cottage,
and Transitional Living programmes have each budgeted additional funds to carry out deep scale cleaning
of their facilities on a quarterly basi s.
Extra money has also been budgeted to cover
vehicle maintenance to ensure staff are able to travel
Island- wide to carry out their duties, and for ageing
kitchen and office equipment at the Brangman Home.
Insurance
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the
$3,000 increase in insurance costs will ensure that the
annual re- charge for psychologist medical professional
liability is covered.
Energy
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, for fiscal
year 2025/26 the Energy budget has been allocated
$318,000, representing a $14,000, or 5 per cent increase over fiscal year 2025/26. This increase will support fuel costs for two new vehicles to be used by the new Intensive Family Preservation programme.
Clothing, Uniforms and Laundry
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, $176,000
has been budgeted for clothing, uniforms and laundry expenses.
This is a $5,000, or 3 per cent , decrease that is
attributed to the Brangman Home redirecting funding
328 5 June 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda Senate from their clothing budget to finance increased gasoline
costs, as [previously] mentioned .
Materials and Supplies
Sen. Lindsay Simmons : Madam Chairman, the estimate for M aterials and Supplies for fiscal year 2025/26
is $512,000, representing a $136,000, or 36 per cent
increase over the 2024/25 budget allocation. Two-thirds of this increase is due to the rising costs to provide children’s meals within the Happy Valley Child Care Centre, as well as for residents within the Brangman Home, Observatory Cottag e and Independent Living programmes.
The remaining one- third of the increase is explained by additional funding needed for office supplies, stationery, printing and cleaning supplies across the various programmes , and the Independent Living
programme has also budgeted more for linen and toiletries for residents.
Equipment (Minor Capital)
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman , minor
equipment expenses have been allocated $111,000 for
fiscal year 2025/26, an increase of $83,000 over fiscal
year 2024/25. The increase highlights an administrative
error as these monies are earmarked for spending on contracted security services at the Independent Living
programme, and not security equipment. The neces-sary change will be made to the budget.
Other Expenses
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the
budget for O ther Expenses increased by $25,000 for
fiscal year 2025/26. This increase will support a new social sector initiative funded by the Administration section for a Hardship Support fund for families facing a
financial crisis , i.e., those having insufficient money to
cover the costs of food, medication, or utility bills.
The fund seeks to provide immediate assistance to people, pending being assessed by the De-partment of Financial Assistance, or for those who may not be eligible for financial assistance.
Grants and Contributions
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the
amount allocated for G rants and Contributions for fiscal
year 2025/26 is $685,000, representing a $451,000, or
40 per cent reduction in funding from fiscal year
2024/25. As shown on page C -21, grants awarded to
Teen Services and Teen Haven (shown as Grant to
YHED) have decreased by $375,000, since these
grants have been transferred over to the Ministry Head-quarters. Also, the grant for the Multi -Agency Risk Assessment Committee (MARAC) has b een reduced by
$76,000, as a s ocial worker (Domestic Liaison) post has been created within Family Preservation, to provide these services. The remaining amount budgeted
for MARAC will be spent on Domestic Abuse Awareness activities.
Revenue Summary ( Page B -299)
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, for fiscal
year 2025/26, R evenue for nursery fees earned by the
Happy Valley Child Care Centre is estimated to be on
par with the 2024/25 [ estimate] . Additional earnings of
$33,000 are anticipated to be collected by the Independent Living programme in respect of residential
fees from clients.
Employee Numbers (Full -Time Equivalents)
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, on page
B-300 you will note that there are 117 full -time equivalent positions for the Department of Child and Family
Services for fiscal year 2025/26.
This is an increase of 11 full -time equivalents
compared to fiscal year 2024/25. The increase is explained by the additional nine funded temporary additional posts budgeted for the new community -based intensive model of intervention, Intensive Family Preser-vation Programme, operating under the Family Preservation Section. The temporary additional posts will include three social worker assistants, four social workers, one clinical social worker, and one behavioural
support specialist.
It should also be noted that during November
2024, the department completed realignment of its po-sitions relative to the approved organisational structure.
This resulted in some positions being moved to other
business units and thus accounts for the remain ing difference shown on page B -300.
Madam Chairman, this concludes our presentation for Head 23, the Department of Child and Family
Services.
I noted Senator Wight.
Senator Simmons, would you like to respond?
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: One second.
Senator Wight, thank you for that. Yes, we accept your point, and we will take it under advisement.
So, thank you.
322 5 June 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda Senate The Chairman: Are there any further comments under
this head?
No. Thank you.
Senator Simmons.
HEAD 23 —DEPARTMENT OF CHILD AND FAMILY
SERVICES
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Thank you.
Madam Chairman, I now wish to present fiscal
year 2025/26 Estimates of Expenditure for Head 23, the Department of Child and Family Services which are
found on pages B -297 through B -303 of the Estimate
Book.
The mission of the Department [ of Child and
Family Services ] is Protecting children by strengthening families . The objectives of the department are found
on page B -297.
Madam Chairman, on page B -298 of the Estimates Book, a total of $21,133,000 has been allocated
for Head 23 for fiscal year 2025/26. This represents an increase of [$1,453,000] , or 7 per cent.
Madam Chairman, the d epartment is responsible for promoting and protecting the best interests and social well- being of children, adolescents, and their
families and meets these responsibilities with the operations of five programmes:
• Programme 2301— Services to Children and
Young Persons
• Programme 2302— Services to Individuals
and Families
• Programme 2303—Residential Treatment Services
• Programme 2304— Administration
• Programme 2305—The Mirrors Programme
Madam Chairman , I will address each programme and business unit for the department as set
out on page B -298.
Programme 2301, Services to Children and Young
Persons
Hon. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman , business
unit 33010, the Happy Valley Child Care Centre has a
budget of $1,200,000 for fiscal year 2025/26. The out-put measures for the Happy Valley Child Care Centre
are found on page B -301 of the Estimates Book.
Madam Chairman, Happy Valley Child Care
Centre is the only Government -operated child care facility on the Island, which provides high quality child care for a maximum of 44 children whose ages range
from three months to four years of age. Priority is given
to children r eferred by helping agencies such as the
Department of Child and Family Services, Teen Services, the Department of Health, the Child [ Development ] Programme and the Department of Financial Assistance. These agencies along with families experi-encing various challenges account for 60 per cent of
the Centre’s intake. The Centre offers enrichment programmes that
encourage family and community involvement and builds upon child development.
Madam Chairman, the estimated revenue for
the fiscal year 2025/26 school year as shown on page B-299 is $192,000.
Madam Chairman , in July 2024, 17 children
graduated from the programme and were all well pre-pared to attend preschool. Their accomplishments
were celebrated with a school leaving ceremony at the
Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute.
Madam Chairman , in fiscal year 2025/26,
Happy Valley Child Care Centre will continue to uphold
its commitment to partnering with community resources, including the Child Development Programme
(CDP) , the Department of Health, and Fire and Life
Safety Associates.
Madam Chairman, I will turn to programme
2302, Services to Individuals and Families, found on page B -298.
Programme 2302, Services to Individuals
and Families
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman , the activities covered under programme 2302 are:
• Business unit [33020] —Investigating and
Screening
• Business unit [33030] —Foster Care
• Business unit 33200 —Counselling and Life
Skills
• Business unit 33240 —Child Safeguarding
Madam Chairman, the estimate for these three
business units for fiscal year 2025/ 26 is $6,198,000,
which represents a decrease of $37,000.
Madam Chairman, the Intake, Investigation
and Assessment section is responsible for providing
comprehensive investigations and assessments to children who are referred for services. The 2025/ 26 budget
estimate for business unit 33020 is $2,245,000, a decrease of 11 per cent .
Madam Chairman, the Department of Child
and Family Services provides services and support for
children and families referred for abuse or neglect. The
department is committed to partnering with stakeholders to promote the safety and health of families while
protecting children from abuse and neglect.
All referrals that are made to the d epartment
are screened to determine if they meet the threshold for
abuse and/or neglect utili sing the Structured Decision
Making Assessment tools. The performance measures
for intake and assessments can be found on page B -
301 of the Estimates Book.
Madam Chairman, in 2024, the Investigation
team received 1,210 new referrals. This is an increase of 204, or 20 per cent , when 1,006 new referrals were
reported. Mandated reporters [ referred] 1,072, and 138
were referred from other sources in the community.
Bermuda Senate Foster Care, Business Unit 33030
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the Foster Care section of the Department of Child and Family
Services is responsible for providing alternative living arrangements for children under the age of 18 years old
who need out -of-home placement. The budget estimate for business unit 33030 for 2025 /26 is
$2,672,000. This represents an increase of $288,000.
Madam Chairman, during 2024, a total of 61
children occupied foster care beds at some point during
the year. This represents an increase of three children
from the prior year. The team was also responsible for
case management duties for the children’s birth families and foster families.
During the past year, the Foster Care Programme served a total of seven therapeutic foster [ children] . The children in this category have a variety of
physical, cognitive, emotional and behavioural challenges.
Out of those seven children, two were referred
to overseas facilities for a comprehensive assessment and were recommended for further overseas placement. By the end of 2024, a total of nine children left
the Foster Care Programme. Three were reunified with
a parent; Three were transferred to Residential Treatment Services; and three aged out of the Foster Care
system.
Madam Chairman, i n May 2024, Foster Care
Month, the foster [ care] team held the Annual Appreciation Tea for Bermuda’s Foster Parents.
The Foster Care Programme ended in 2024
with Christmas gift donations for all foster children.
Items were generously donated from anonymous mem-bers of the public and the RenRe Insurance Company.
Madam Chairman, the department acknowledges the foster parents of Bermuda. These are our
unsung heroes who provide loving, stable homes to
children who have experienced significant trauma as a
result of abuse and/or neglect. Every day, they make a
foster child’s life better with their numerous acts of [ care
and] kindness.
Counselling and Life Skills , Business Unit 33200
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the purpose of the Counselling and Life Skills [CLS] business
unit is to advance and promote the emotional well -being of youth up to 18 years of age and their families.
The budget for this business unit [ 33200] for fiscal year
2025 /26 is $1,181,000. This represents a decrease of
$8,000, or 1 per cent .
Madam Chairman, several trends were identified in 2024 amongst our youth that included:
• Substance referrals for vaping and marijuana
are still an issue with young people. This may
be affected by legalisation in some jurisdictions despite this population being minors and their
lack of understanding of the dangers of vaping. • Grief counselling for children who have lost relatives as well as relationships with parents because of divorce.
• A growing need for co- parenting support based
on issues of custody and divorce.
• Younger children being referred with complex
neurodiversity behavioural issues, such as
ADHD, ASD, who require a multidisciplinary
team approach to address various needs.
• Parents requiring therapy support who themselves have experienced childhood trauma
that is impacting them in adulthood.
• Younger children requiring therapy beyond talk
therapy, such as play therapy, interventions to
assist with self -regulation of emotions, such as
somatic therapy, which focuses on the body and how emotions appear within the body, and
movement therapy .
• A need for parenting skills services that help
parents understand different developmental
stages and what is appropriate behaviour during those stages.
These trends highlight the growing need for
counselling resources to support parents, children, and
adolescents that are affordable, evidence- based and
relatable.
Child Safeguarding, Business Unit 33250
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, this year,
$100,000 will fund the C hild Safeguarding programme,
business unit 33250. As per the Child Safeguarding [(Miscellaneous Amendments)] Act 2019, children who
are victims of sexual offences or who are convicted of
sexual offences and serious personal injury receive
both physical and psychological services, which trans-late to costs incurred for psychosexual assessments
and counselling servi ces.
Last year, seven children received psychosexual assessments. Six were victims of sexual offences
and one was a perpetrator. All children subsequently
received associated counselling [ services] . One parent
received a comprehensive parenting capacity assess-ment.
Programme 2303, Residential Treatment Services
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, programme 2303, Residential Treatment Services found
on page B -298 includes Family Preservation, Brangman Home, Youth Development Centre, Observatory
Cottage, the Psycho- Educational Programme, Youth
Residential Treatment and Independent Living.
This programme has a budget allocation of
$10,388,000. This represents an increase of $1,618,000, or 18 per cent from the [ financial ] year
2024/25 budget allocation.
Family Preservation, Business Unit 33060
324 5 June 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda Senate Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the
budget estimate for business unit 33060 for fiscal year
2025/26 is $3,836,000. The estimate is 121 per cent
more than fiscal year 2024/25. This significant increase is related to the enhancement and expansion of social services provided to the community for our high- risk
families.
Madam Chairman, from January 2024 to December 2024, the Family Preservation Team served a
combined total of 147 families and 257 children. This is
an 8 per cent increase in families and a 7 per cent increase in children served over the prior year.
Caseload complexities and risk levels remained high throughout 2024, thus requiring a higher
number of face- to-face contacts, multiple court appearances, family conferences and consultations with com-munity and government stakeholders.
Madam Chairman, in 2024, Department of
Child and Family Services ( DCFS ) continued with its
commitment to increase the skills of its front -line Family
Preservation workers in engaging and meeting the needs of clients. Officers participated in [Staff] Safety
Training, Mental Health First Aid for Adolescents and
four attended the 39
th Annual International Conference
on Child and Family Maltreatment.
The Family Preservation Team continues to
strive to provide effective services to children and families. Performance improvement is an ongoing endeavour, thus enhancing the opportunity for improved client
outcomes.
Madam Chairman, the budget allocation for
business unit 33070, Brangman Home, is $1,195,000,
a decrease of $62,000, or 5 per cent.
Madam Chairman, business unit 33080, the
Youth Development Centre’s budget allocation is
$306,000. This is an increase of $18,000, or 6 per cent.
The Observatory Cottage that falls under business unit 33090, has a budget of [ $1,172,000] , a decrease of $311,000, or 21 per cent.
Madam Chairman, Residential Treatment Services (RTS) provides group living intervention services
to children between the ages of 12 and 18 years old.
These are adolescents who are deemed to be at risk in the community and require care and protection in a safe and structured residential environment. All children
placed in this service have had their situation and circumstances considered by the Family Court, where it
has been deemed appropriate for them to be placed on
a care order and as such, become the responsibility of
the Director of Child and Family Services.
Madam Chairman, RTS met the performance
targets with 100 per cent of residents given independent treatment plans, 100 per cent had service plans
and 100 per cent of residents had individual crisis management plans. The team focused on ensuring all plans
were ali gned to offer the best care for residents and
continue to partner with key community stakeholders
such as the Bermuda Police Service, Department of
Education, Child and Adolescent Services, the Gang Violence Reduction Team, Department of Court Services, Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Bermuda and the
Mirrors Programme.
Psycho -Educational Programme, Business Unit 33100
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the Psycho-Educational (Psycho- Ed) programme was developed to clinically address children who could not be effectively treated in Bermuda or those who had exhausted all available local therapeutic/treatment services. The budget [estimate] for business unit [33100]
is $2,119,000. This represents less than a 1 per cent
increase over 2024/25.
Madam Chairman, the Psycho- Ed Programme
provides children with protection, care, and [ nurturance] by licensed and accredited therapeutic overseas
facilities .
In the best interest of the child, the Psycho- Ed
Committee utilises an overseas service provider that
specialises primarily in providing clinical neuropsychological assessments at Huntsman Mental Health Institute (HMHI). Implementing the neuropsychological assessment at HMHI assisted DCFS in obtaining a c lear
and comprehensive understanding of the specific
needs of clients referred for an assessment.
Madam Chairman, 14 children participated in
the Psycho -Ed Programme in 2024. Four children participated in an overseas [neuropsychological ] assessment. Three children were assessed at Huntsman
Mental Health Institute (HMHI) and one child at Harbor
Point Behavioral Health. Two children completed their
neuropsychological assessments at HMHI resulting in
one child being diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, returning to the local jurisdiction for active case
management . And one child was referred for a longterm overseas therapeutic placement. One child remains at HMHI and has not completed the assessment
process. One child who completed the neuropsychological assessment process at Harbor Point Behavioral
Health was recommended for a long- term overseas
therapeutic placement.
Youth Residential Treatment , Business Unit 33110
Sen. Lindsay Simmons : Madam Chairman, business
unit 33110, Youth Residential Treatment ’s budget allocation for fiscal year 2025/26 is $1,087,000. This reflects a decrease of 13 per cent compared to fiscal year
2024/25. Madam Chairman, Youth Residential Treatment [serves ] as the administrative and professional
services arm that delivers comprehensive support, including accounting, management, counselling, and
clinical services to all residential homes and programmes. This business unit is responsible for identifying staff training needs, assessing the clinical needs of
all children within the programme, and managing facility maintenance and repair issues, which are reported
to the d irector for appropriate action.
Bermuda Senate Additionally, the unit oversees all Performance
and Quality Improvement (PQI) efforts, ensuring that
every programme within Residential Treatment Services consistently meets and maintains industry standards. During 2024, two hard- to-fill positions within
Youth Residential Treatment were successfully staffed,
strengthening the team’s capacity to deliver high- quality care and support across all programmes.
Independent Living Programme, Business Unit 33240
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, business
unit 33240, on page B -298, Independent Living Programme budget allocation for fiscal year 2025/26 is
$673,000, an increase of 4 per cent.
The Independent Living Programme (ILP) is a
pioneering initiative, offering a vital lifeline and safety net for young adults ageing out of the c are of the d irector. This year, the programme celebrated two years of
operations, providing the young adults with the support and resources necessary to successfully navigate the challenging transition into adulthood.
Madam Chairman, at the start of 2024, the Independent Living Programme housed four residents. However, one female resident was terminated due to non-compliance. Subsequently, ten referrals were received and four were rejected. By the end of the year, Independent Living Programme was at capacity with
nine residents —seven females and two males.
Two residents graduated from The Berkeley Institute. One high schooler moved to the Independent
Living Programme in July, completed summer school,
and is on the course to graduate from the CedarBridge Academy in 2025. One resident enrolled with the Adult Education School in December 2024 to obtain their
GED. Also, each resident had some form of employ-ment, whether f ull-time, part -time, summer employment, or apprenticeship. By the end of 2024, there were
three residents employed full -time, three part -time, o ne
seasonal, and two unemployed.
Madam Chairman, renovations to the Independent Living Programme staff offices and boardroom commenced in November and are progressing steadily.
These upgrades aim to enhance the functionality of staff spaces and support continued programme delivery.
In addition, the development of a new studio
apartment is underway, which will increase Independent Living Programme’s residential capacity to a total of
11 rooms. This unit has been thoughtfully designed to accommodate residents with disabilities, ensuring accessibility and inclusivity within the progra mme. When
not in use for this purpose, the studio will serve as a
transitional living space for residents who have demonstrated readiness for independent living, offering an opportunity to experience greater autonomy in the final
stages of their Independent Living Programme journey.
Programme 2305—The Mirrors Programme,
Business Unit 33140 Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the
budget allocation for the Mirrors Programme, business unit 33140 for 2025/26 is $869,000, an increase of
24 per cent. Mirrors has begun to rebuild its team since
it transitioned to the Department of Child and Family Services. A full complement of staff is expected this
year. One additional post, a Youth and Community Engagement Officer, will be funded this year and the Recruitment [Manager ] post will now be fully funded this
year for a total complement of six staff for the Mirrors Programme.
Madam Chairman, Mirrors and its partners
continue to develop the work in the Social Emotional
Development and Life Coaching areas for our community. As an example of the high level of curriculum, the
Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC )
accreditor observed the February 2025 camp, spoke
with campers, staff, volunteers, leadership campers
and parents with a positive report for re- accrediting our
partner Quantum Learning Global, which extends the
accreditation to Mirrors, producing WASC acc redite d
programming. The Mirrors team is congratulated for this accomplishment.
Madam Chairman, Mirrors enrolled 30 youth in
the October 2024 SuperCamp Senior Forum (Cohort
19) who are currently in their follow -through phase of
the programme with a life coach, with expected completion in June 2025.
Mirrors is expecting to enrol a leadership senior group ( cohort 20), in the upcoming year, of twenty -
five 14 - to 16- year-olds and five junior team leaders to
travel to Singapore for the SuperCamp Senior Forum leadership experience. The focus is to build peer lead-ership skills and harness the peer influence such t hat
they have a positive impact in their schools when they
return.
During 2024, Madam Chairman, 60 middle
school students participated in the All In! 8 Keys of Excellence [prefect ] training across the three middle
schools; 33 youth participated in the five- day SuperCamp Junior Forum workshop, and 20 youth were supported through the out -of-school suspension and drop -
in service programme.
Madam Chairman, PeerForward Bermuda
travelled overseas in 2024 with a team of 16 peer leaders, four advisors, two college coaches and two support
staff for the Mirrors -endorsed college and career readiness programmes at The Berkeley Institute and CedarBridge Academy. All trainings in the PeerForward programme received 100 per cent positive experience in
content and experience.
Madam Chairman, [172] students provided art
and digital submissions in the 8
th Annual Art and Digital
competition themed “Feels Like Home.” The upcoming
2025 theme is “Faces of Bermuda” which will showcase
student summer art.
Madam Chairman, Mirrors continues to find
ways to engage parents to attend training to build skills
for positive youth development. Madam Chairman, 384
326 5 June 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda Senate parents participated in the programme while 330 volunteers, educators and youth workers attended programming in 2024.
Madam Chairman, 86 adults provided roughly
204 service hours, and 209 youth provided roughly 656 service hours in the Mirrors Field of Learning Garden.
Students were able to engage in sustainable gardening
curricula and harvest vegetables, donating them across
the Island to seniors, group living homes and families.
Madam Chairman, I take this opportunity to
thank corporate Bermuda, the Alumni Board members
and the Mirrors team for their commitment to the development of Bermuda’s youth.
Programme 2304, Administration
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, business
unit 33120 , Administration and business unit 33130,
Grant Funding fall under p rogramme 2304 with a combined budget estimate for fiscal year 2025/26 of
$2,478,000, reflecting a decrease of $404,000 or 14 per cent.
Administration, B usiness Unit 33120
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the Administration section of DCFS is responsible for the gen-eral supervision of the sections within the department and the oversight of the Psycho- Educational Programme, the Mirrors Programme, Child Safeguarding
and Court Social work. The budget estimate for busi-ness unit 33120 for this year is $2,383,000. This reflects a 2 per cent increase.
Madam Chairman, in response to the recommendations of the SafeLives UK review, a Domestic Liaison social worker joined the Department of Child and
Family Services in April. This o fficer brings experience
as a complex needs independent domestic violence advisor and will work in partnership with the Centre
Against Abuse.
The establishment of the Multi -Agency Risk
Assessment Conference (MARAC) was another SafeLives UK recommendation, which has been in operation during the past [ two] years.
From its inception in April 2023 until December
2024 , MARAC has reviewed a total of 143 cases.
These cases include couples, families with children, and seniors/vulnerable persons who experienced family abuse.
DCFS recorded 197 investigations for neglect
in 2024, specifically related to child exposure to family violence/domestic [abuse] . This reflects an increase
from the 157 investigations recorded at the end of
2023, continuing a concerning year -over-year upward
trend.
Children exposed to domestic abuse face both
short -term and long- term challenges. Madam Chairman, it is critical to recognis e that children learn and are
shaped by their environment from birth and even in utero. The harmful effects of domestic abuse must
not be underestimated, and the community has a re-sponsibility to act.
Grant Funding, Business Unit 33130
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the
budget estimate for b usiness unit 33130 for 2025/26 is
$95,000, representing an 83 per cent decrease from
2024/25. This reduction is due to a shift of the grant allocation of $375,000 for Teen Haven and Teen Ser-vices from DCFS to the Ministry Headquarters.
Madam C hairman, $75,000 in grant funding is
to support the cross-ministry initiative and assist families in crisis through the development of coordinated,
inter-agency responses that address urgent and multifaceted needs. Madam Chairman, $20,000 has been
allocated to MARAC to cover education, promotion and
awareness about domestic violence.
Subjective Analysis of Current Account Estimates
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, I will now
present the subjective analysis of current account estimates for the Department of Child and Family Services
as found on page B -299 of the Estimates Book.
Salaries
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the
budget allocated for Salaries is $11,926,000 for fiscal
year 2025/26, an increase of $1,681,000, or 16 per
cent more than the original budget for fiscal year 2024/25.
The salary growth largely reflects increases in
FTEs to ensure that a new community -based intensive
model of intervention, i.e., the Intensive Family Preservation programme, can be implemented under the
Family Preservation section. The increase is also explained by funding for an additional full- time equivalent
for the Mirrors Programme, and one new full-time
equivalent for the Foster Care programme . Finally, negotiated salary uplifts for public officers also explain the increase for 2025/26.
Wages
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the estimate for wages is $187,000 for fiscal year 2025/26, representing an increase of $11,000 compared to fiscal
year 2024/25. This is due to the adjustment of an understated annual wage in the prior year ; however, negotiated pay uplifts for industrial employees accounted for the majority of the increase.
Other Personnel Costs
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the
budget expenditure allocated for other personnel costs
Bermuda Senate remained unchanged from fiscal year 2024/25 to fiscal
year 2025/26.
Training
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the
$2,000 increase in training expenses for fiscal year
2025/26 is representative of new, specialised onboarding training for employees within the Family Preservation section.
Transport
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, expenditure for transport has been budgeted at $70,000 for fis-cal year 2025/26, indicative of a $25,000, or 56 per
cent, increase over the prior year. The Foster Care Programme provides transportation services for children to
and from school and some after -school activities. The
section has increased its transportation budget by this
amount due to the number of children involved in sev-eral after -school activities, and sp ecial professional
services that are time- sensitiv e.
Travel
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, total
travel expenses have been budgeted at $252,000 for
fiscal year 2025/26, an increase of $6,000 over [ fiscal ]
year 2024/25. This represents minor increases in the amounts budgeted for overseas conferences and hotel costs for the Foster Care and Investigation and Screening programmes.
Communications
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, communications, inclusive of phones, courier and postal costs, are budgeted at $225,000 for fiscal year 2025/26,
which represents a $37,000, or 20 per cent , increase
over the budget allocation for fiscal year 2024/25. Ad-ditional staff hired for the new Intensive Family Preservation initiative will each require a cellular phone for
safety purposes. Also, the Counselling and Life Skills section will be issued c ellular phones during 2025/26,
as their client base has increased, and more time is anticipated to be spent at the schools and meeting clients
outside of the office. Lastly, the rise in the budget covers increased costs of local calls for the programmes
having satellite offices.
Advertising and Promotion
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the
budget of $18,000 allocated for advertising and promo-tion expenditures increased by $5,000 for fiscal year 2025/26. This is to support a planned campaign on
mandatory reporting by the Investigation and Screening section. Professional Services
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, P rofessional Services budgeted at $3,929,000 for fiscal year
2025/26, represents a decrease of $175,000. The Independent Living programme requires a security presence every night and weekends at the facility. Funding
for this security was redirected from Professional Services to the Security Equipment (Minor Equipment)
budget line in error. The necessary change will be
made to the budget.
Rentals
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the estimate for R entals for [ budget ] year 2025/26 is
$1,682,000, a decrease of $8,000 from the prior budget year. This decrease represents a minor adjustment to
the rental budget within the Independent Living programme.
Repair and Maintenance
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, for fiscal
year 2025/26, the costs of Repairs and Maintenance is
$611,000, an increase of $64,000 over fiscal year
2024/25. The Brangman Home, Observatory Cottage,
and Transitional Living programmes have each budgeted additional funds to carry out deep scale cleaning
of their facilities on a quarterly basi s.
Extra money has also been budgeted to cover
vehicle maintenance to ensure staff are able to travel
Island- wide to carry out their duties, and for ageing
kitchen and office equipment at the Brangman Home.
Insurance
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the
$3,000 increase in insurance costs will ensure that the
annual re- charge for psychologist medical professional
liability is covered.
Energy
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, for fiscal
year 2025/26 the Energy budget has been allocated
$318,000, representing a $14,000, or 5 per cent increase over fiscal year 2025/26. This increase will support fuel costs for two new vehicles to be used by the new Intensive Family Preservation programme.
Clothing, Uniforms and Laundry
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, $176,000
has been budgeted for clothing, uniforms and laundry expenses.
This is a $5,000, or 3 per cent , decrease that is
attributed to the Brangman Home redirecting funding
328 5 June 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda Senate from their clothing budget to finance increased gasoline
costs, as [previously] mentioned .
Materials and Supplies
Sen. Lindsay Simmons : Madam Chairman, the estimate for M aterials and Supplies for fiscal year 2025/26
is $512,000, representing a $136,000, or 36 per cent
increase over the 2024/25 budget allocation. Two-thirds of this increase is due to the rising costs to provide children’s meals within the Happy Valley Child Care Centre, as well as for residents within the Brangman Home, Observatory Cottag e and Independent Living programmes.
The remaining one- third of the increase is explained by additional funding needed for office supplies, stationery, printing and cleaning supplies across the various programmes , and the Independent Living
programme has also budgeted more for linen and toiletries for residents.
Equipment (Minor Capital)
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman , minor
equipment expenses have been allocated $111,000 for
fiscal year 2025/26, an increase of $83,000 over fiscal
year 2024/25. The increase highlights an administrative
error as these monies are earmarked for spending on contracted security services at the Independent Living
programme, and not security equipment. The neces-sary change will be made to the budget.
Other Expenses
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the
budget for O ther Expenses increased by $25,000 for
fiscal year 2025/26. This increase will support a new social sector initiative funded by the Administration section for a Hardship Support fund for families facing a
financial crisis , i.e., those having insufficient money to
cover the costs of food, medication, or utility bills.
The fund seeks to provide immediate assistance to people, pending being assessed by the De-partment of Financial Assistance, or for those who may not be eligible for financial assistance.
Grants and Contributions
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, the
amount allocated for G rants and Contributions for fiscal
year 2025/26 is $685,000, representing a $451,000, or
40 per cent reduction in funding from fiscal year
2024/25. As shown on page C -21, grants awarded to
Teen Services and Teen Haven (shown as Grant to
YHED) have decreased by $375,000, since these
grants have been transferred over to the Ministry Head-quarters. Also, the grant for the Multi -Agency Risk Assessment Committee (MARAC) has b een reduced by
$76,000, as a s ocial worker (Domestic Liaison) post has been created within Family Preservation, to provide these services. The remaining amount budgeted
for MARAC will be spent on Domestic Abuse Awareness activities.
Revenue Summary ( Page B -299)
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, for fiscal
year 2025/26, R evenue for nursery fees earned by the
Happy Valley Child Care Centre is estimated to be on
par with the 2024/25 [ estimate] . Additional earnings of
$33,000 are anticipated to be collected by the Independent Living programme in respect of residential
fees from clients.
Employee Numbers (Full -Time Equivalents)
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Madam Chairman, on page
B-300 you will note that there are 117 full -time equivalent positions for the Department of Child and Family
Services for fiscal year 2025/26.
This is an increase of 11 full -time equivalents
compared to fiscal year 2024/25. The increase is explained by the additional nine funded temporary additional posts budgeted for the new community -based intensive model of intervention, Intensive Family Preser-vation Programme, operating under the Family Preservation Section. The temporary additional posts will include three social worker assistants, four social workers, one clinical social worker, and one behavioural
support specialist.
It should also be noted that during November
2024, the department completed realignment of its po-sitions relative to the approved organisational structure.
This resulted in some positions being moved to other
business units and thus accounts for the remain ing difference shown on page B -300.
Madam Chairman, this concludes our presentation for Head 23, the Department of Child and Family
Services.
The Chairman Chairman
Thank you, Senator Simmons. The time is now 4:46 pm, and I would like to ask if any Senators would like to speak to these heads that were just presented. Senator Foley . Sen. Maurice Foley: Thank you, Madam Chairman, and thank you to Senator Simmons for Head 23, Child …
Thank you, Senator Simmons.
The time is now 4:46 pm, and I would like to
ask if any Senators would like to speak to these heads
that were just presented.
Senator Foley .
Sen. Maurice Foley: Thank you, Madam Chairman,
and thank you to Senator Simmons for Head 23, Child
and Family Services. I do just have a few questions on
page B -298, business unit 33240, the Independent Living Programme.
First, I will just skip over that part, but I will just
go straight to the numbers. I was looking for some ma-trix based on some long- term matrix, looking at the performance measures. I didn't see any performance measures in the Budget Book. Can the Junior Minister
provide any long- term success matrix being used to determine its actual impact, the programme's impact?
Bermuda Senate The Chairman: Senator Simmons, would you like to
know if there are any further questions?
Do you have any further questions, Senator
Foley?
Sen. Maurice Foley: Yes, Madam Chairman.
The time is now 4:46 pm, and I would like to
ask if any Senators would like to speak to these heads
that were just presented.
Senator Foley .
Sen. Maurice Foley: Thank you, Madam Chairman,
and thank you to Senator Simmons for Head 23, Child
and Family Services. I do just have a few questions on
page B -298, business unit 33240, the Independent Living Programme.
First, I will just skip over that part, but I will just
go straight to the numbers. I was looking for some ma-trix based on some long- term matrix, looking at the performance measures. I didn't see any performance measures in the Budget Book. Can the Junior Minister
provide any long- term success matrix being used to determine its actual impact, the programme's impact?
Bermuda Senate The Chairman: Senator Simmons, would you like to
know if there are any further questions?
Do you have any further questions, Senator
Foley?
Sen. Maurice Foley: Yes, Madam Chairman.
The Chairman Chairman
Please ask them. Sen. Maurice Foley: Okay. My second question is on page B -298, unit number 33030, Foster Care Adoption Services. There is over $2.5 million being allocated. My question is, with challenges in long- term foster placements, how is the department addressing the shortage of avail able foster …
The Chairman Chairman
Yes, please, Senator Foley. Sen. Maurice Foley: All right. Question number three, is the current stipend competitive enough to attract new foster parents? Next question is, and this is under the same business unit, has the Ministry updated its outreach or recruitment strategy to boost interest from the public? And …
Yes, please, Senator Foley.
Sen. Maurice Foley: All right. Question number three,
is the current stipend competitive enough to attract new
foster parents?
Next question is, and this is under the same
business unit, has the Ministry updated its outreach or
recruitment strategy to boost interest from the public?
And my final question is, Are court delays impacting adoption timelines? And if so, how is this being addressed? And that is my final question for page B -
298, business unit 33030.
I do have one more set of questions on the
same page, but on a different business unit, 33250.
Can I continue?
Sen. Maurice Foley: All right. Question number three,
is the current stipend competitive enough to attract new
foster parents?
Next question is, and this is under the same
business unit, has the Ministry updated its outreach or
recruitment strategy to boost interest from the public?
And my final question is, Are court delays impacting adoption timelines? And if so, how is this being addressed? And that is my final question for page B -
298, business unit 33030.
I do have one more set of questions on the
same page, but on a different business unit, 33250.
Can I continue?
The Chairman Chairman
Just one moment, please, Senator Foley. Senator Simmons, would you like to respond to the initial set? Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Sure. Give me one second. So, to answer one of the questions, the programme is in its infancy stages, so the impact will not be normally . . . sorry. …
Just one moment, please, Senator Foley.
Senator Simmons, would you like to respond to
the initial set?
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Sure. Give me one second.
So, to answer one of the questions, the programme is in its infancy stages, so the impact will not
be normally . . . sorry. The programme is in its infancy
stages, so the impact will not normally be measurable
until we reach the four - or five- year mark.
Sen. Maurice Foley: Thank you.
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: You can ask some more
questions.
Sen. Maurice Foley: Okay.
Senator Simmons, would you like to respond to
the initial set?
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Sure. Give me one second.
So, to answer one of the questions, the programme is in its infancy stages, so the impact will not
be normally . . . sorry. The programme is in its infancy
stages, so the impact will not normally be measurable
until we reach the four - or five- year mark.
Sen. Maurice Foley: Thank you.
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: You can ask some more
questions.
Sen. Maurice Foley: Okay.
The Chairman Chairman
Senator Foley, I believe you had further questions. Sen. Maurice Foley: Yes. My last set of questions on page B -298, business unit 33250. Under Child Safeguarding, there is $100,000 being allocated for this. With over 250 child protection referrals annually (this is what I found) how has the department …
The Chairman Chairman
Senator Simmons, would you like to hear all of the questions? If you have any further questions, please continue, Senator Foley. Sen. Maurice Foley: Thank you, Madam Chairman. Well, I will ask this question. I think I found the answer, but is there a current audit or evaluation on child …
Senator Simmons, would you like to
hear all of the questions?
If you have any further questions, please continue, Senator Foley.
Sen. Maurice Foley: Thank you, Madam Chairman.
Well, I will ask this question. I think I found the
answer, but is there a current audit or evaluation on
child protection caseloads?
And my next question is, How many frontline
caseworkers are employed and is staffing adequate?
And one more question, How is trauma- informed care being integrated into investigations?
And that's my final question, Madam Chairman. Thank you, Junior Minister.
hear all of the questions?
If you have any further questions, please continue, Senator Foley.
Sen. Maurice Foley: Thank you, Madam Chairman.
Well, I will ask this question. I think I found the
answer, but is there a current audit or evaluation on
child protection caseloads?
And my next question is, How many frontline
caseworkers are employed and is staffing adequate?
And one more question, How is trauma- informed care being integrated into investigations?
And that's my final question, Madam Chairman. Thank you, Junior Minister.
The Chairman Chairman
Thank you, Senator Foley. Would any other senators like to speak to any of the heads that were raised? Senator Cunningham. Sen. Victoria Cunningham: Thank you, Madam Chairman. I just have a general question, and it is are there any plans to amend or update the Children Act as you …
Thank you, Senator Foley.
Would any other senators like to speak to any
of the heads that were raised?
Senator Cunningham.
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: Thank you, Madam
Chairman. I just have a general question, and it is are there any plans to amend or update the Children Act as
you go through the legislative calendar?
Thank you.
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Okay, to answer another
question. The department is currently assessing foster
parent recruitment strategies with the goal of increasing
the foster parent pool.
Would any other senators like to speak to any
of the heads that were raised?
Senator Cunningham.
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: Thank you, Madam
Chairman. I just have a general question, and it is are there any plans to amend or update the Children Act as
you go through the legislative calendar?
Thank you.
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Okay, to answer another
question. The department is currently assessing foster
parent recruitment strategies with the goal of increasing
the foster parent pool.
The Chairman Chairman
I believe Senator Foley had another question. Sen. Maurice Foley: Just one final question. I found it in my notes here, and I am going to refer to . . . let's see here, page C -27 under Heading 23, Child and Family Services. The Ministry is renting Customs House …
I believe Senator Foley had another
question.
Sen. Maurice Foley: Just one final question. I found it
in my notes here, and I am going to refer to . . . let's see
here, page C -27 under Heading 23, Child and Family
Services. The Ministry is renting Customs House on
Front Street for approximately $795,000, which is con-siderably more expensive than any other listing on
Schedule C for any other government department. This
is by about $200,000. Could the J unior Minister please
explain why this is the case?
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Okay, while we wait for some
more answers, I have three answers for you.
Yes, files are audited on a monthly basis to ensure compliance and maintain industry standards.
The next [answer] is adoption applications in
court are not being delayed by court schedules.
Another answer is yes; there are plans to update the Child[ren] Act. A review of the Act will commence this year. The investigations are screened using
330 5 June 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda Senate the structured decision- making tools. That provides the
response time of 24 hours, 5 days, or 10- day response.
question.
Sen. Maurice Foley: Just one final question. I found it
in my notes here, and I am going to refer to . . . let's see
here, page C -27 under Heading 23, Child and Family
Services. The Ministry is renting Customs House on
Front Street for approximately $795,000, which is con-siderably more expensive than any other listing on
Schedule C for any other government department. This
is by about $200,000. Could the J unior Minister please
explain why this is the case?
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Okay, while we wait for some
more answers, I have three answers for you.
Yes, files are audited on a monthly basis to ensure compliance and maintain industry standards.
The next [answer] is adoption applications in
court are not being delayed by court schedules.
Another answer is yes; there are plans to update the Child[ren] Act. A review of the Act will commence this year. The investigations are screened using
330 5 June 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda Senate the structured decision- making tools. That provides the
response time of 24 hours, 5 days, or 10- day response.
The Chairman Chairman
Are there any further questions on the heads that were presented? Sen. Maurice Foley: No further questions. Thank you,
Madam Chairman.
The Chairman Chairman
Thank you. We will just await some further answers. [Pause] Sen. Lindsay Simmons: So, the department occupies several floors on 131 Front Street to ensure all pro-grammes and specialty services are in the same area. This allows us to be more client -focused, so it is not just one floor.
The Chairman Chairman
Thank you, Senator Simmons. Are we awaiting any further responses? Yes. Sen. Lindsay Simmons: So, I will say this. I have approximately seven minutes left in my debate. I can read the next head, or if you have any questions for me on the next head, you might as well …
Thank you, Senator Simmons. Are we
awaiting any further responses? Yes.
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: So, I will say this. I have approximately seven minutes left in my debate. I can read
the next head, or if you have any questions for me on
the next head, you might as well ask, because if I start reading . . . if I start reading, you won't get anything.
awaiting any further responses? Yes.
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: So, I will say this. I have approximately seven minutes left in my debate. I can read
the next head, or if you have any questions for me on
the next head, you might as well ask, because if I start reading . . . if I start reading, you won't get anything.
The Chairman Chairman
Senators, you have heard the offer from Junior Minister Senator Simmons . Do you have any questions for Head 55? Sen. Maurice Foley: Yes, I do. Madam Chairman, I do have a few questions.
The Chairman Chairman
If you could, I would assume, ask them in succession. Sen. Maurice Foley: Okay. Sen. Lindsay Simmons: I have two answers first, and then he could ask the questions.
The Chairman Chairman
Okay. Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Okay. In addition to the foster fee stipends, fees were last reviewed in 2021. All needs of the children are covered by the department, including, but not limited to, medical, dental, therapy, cloth-ing, and extracurricular activities. The multi -agency referral meetings are held weekly with the …
Okay.
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Okay. In addition to the foster
fee stipends, fees were last reviewed in 2021. All needs
of the children are covered by the department, including, but not limited to, medical, dental, therapy, cloth-ing, and extracurricular activities.
The multi -agency referral meetings are held
weekly with the Bermuda Police. The department is also a member of the Sexual Assault Response Team,
the Hospital Child Protection Team, and MARAC [Multi -
Agency Risk Assessment Conference]. These teams review cases monthly and also on an as -needed basis.
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Okay. In addition to the foster
fee stipends, fees were last reviewed in 2021. All needs
of the children are covered by the department, including, but not limited to, medical, dental, therapy, cloth-ing, and extracurricular activities.
The multi -agency referral meetings are held
weekly with the Bermuda Police. The department is also a member of the Sexual Assault Response Team,
the Hospital Child Protection Team, and MARAC [Multi -
Agency Risk Assessment Conference]. These teams review cases monthly and also on an as -needed basis.
The Chairman Chairman
Thank you, Senator Simmons. Senator Foley, I believe you had questions for Head 55? Sen. Maurice Foley: Thank you, Madam Chairman. This is under Head 55, Financial Assistance. I am going to break it down to two questions. On page number B -305, business unit 6505, Grants Administration, Cost Control …
Thank you, Senator Simmons. Senator Foley, I believe you had questions for
Head 55?
Sen. Maurice Foley: Thank you, Madam Chairman.
This is under Head 55, Financial Assistance. I am going
to break it down to two questions.
On page number B -305, business unit 6505,
Grants Administration, Cost Control and Forecasting. With approximately $55 million plus in annual spend,
what strategies are in place for reducing long- term reliance on financial assistance while ensuring people still
meet basic living standards ?
Head 55?
Sen. Maurice Foley: Thank you, Madam Chairman.
This is under Head 55, Financial Assistance. I am going
to break it down to two questions.
On page number B -305, business unit 6505,
Grants Administration, Cost Control and Forecasting. With approximately $55 million plus in annual spend,
what strategies are in place for reducing long- term reliance on financial assistance while ensuring people still
meet basic living standards ?
The Chairman Chairman
Please ask your next question, Senator. Sen. Maurice Foley: And the next question is under the same head, page B -305, business unit 65050, Grants Administration. There has been an increase in the applicants aged 18 to 24. What specific interventions are in place to reduce dependency among young adults? …
The Chairman Chairman
Thank you. Do any other Senators have questions on Head 55? Senator Cunningham? Oh, no. Okay. We will await responses. Thank you, Junior Minister Senator Simmons, for this offer. Sen. Lindsay Simmons: I also want to say that the investigation team is comprised of five social workers and five social …
Thank you.
Do any other Senators have questions on
Head 55?
Senator Cunningham?
Oh, no. Okay. We will await responses. Thank
you, Junior Minister Senator Simmons, for this offer.
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: I also want to say that the investigation team is comprised of five social workers
and five social worker assistants.
And I would also like to add that foster parents
. . . I believe foster parents should become foster parents for the love of the children. Compensation is not
why you do it. You don't get paid to be a foster parent.
The stipend that is received should go back to the children for their needs. So, I would say t hat if you want to
become a foster parent to get paid, then don't be a fos-ter parent.
So, strategies for reducing dependencies on financial assistance include partnership with Workforce
Development to find jobs for the clients to get them off of financial assistance.
The department has just had a review from the
management consultants. And we are going through the necessary processes to ensure staffing levels meet industry standards. They have to have a personal development plan with Workforce Development when
they are on financial assistance.
So, I believe that . . . do you have any more
questions or is that it?
Sen. Maurice Foley: No, thank you, Junior Minister.
That's it.
Bermuda Senate Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Do you want me to read my
brief for a minute, or am I done?
[Laughter]
Do any other Senators have questions on
Head 55?
Senator Cunningham?
Oh, no. Okay. We will await responses. Thank
you, Junior Minister Senator Simmons, for this offer.
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: I also want to say that the investigation team is comprised of five social workers
and five social worker assistants.
And I would also like to add that foster parents
. . . I believe foster parents should become foster parents for the love of the children. Compensation is not
why you do it. You don't get paid to be a foster parent.
The stipend that is received should go back to the children for their needs. So, I would say t hat if you want to
become a foster parent to get paid, then don't be a fos-ter parent.
So, strategies for reducing dependencies on financial assistance include partnership with Workforce
Development to find jobs for the clients to get them off of financial assistance.
The department has just had a review from the
management consultants. And we are going through the necessary processes to ensure staffing levels meet industry standards. They have to have a personal development plan with Workforce Development when
they are on financial assistance.
So, I believe that . . . do you have any more
questions or is that it?
Sen. Maurice Foley: No, thank you, Junior Minister.
That's it.
Bermuda Senate Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Do you want me to read my
brief for a minute, or am I done?
[Laughter]
The Chairman Chairman
If you would like to proceed with moving. Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Thank you. Madam Chairman, I move that Heads 86, 23, and 55 be approved as printed.
The Chairman Chairman
It has been moved that Heads 86, 23, and 55 be approved. Are there any objections to that motion? Hearing no objections, it is agreed to. Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Thank you, Madam Chairman. [Motion carried: The Ministry of Youth, Social Develop-ment and Seniors, Heads 86, 23 and 55 were approved …
It has been moved that Heads 86, 23,
and 55 be approved.
Are there any objections to that motion?
Hearing no objections, it is agreed to.
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Thank you, Madam Chairman.
[Motion carried: The Ministry of Youth, Social Develop-ment and Seniors, Heads 86, 23 and 55 were approved
and stand part of the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for the year 2025/26.]
and 55 be approved.
Are there any objections to that motion?
Hearing no objections, it is agreed to.
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Thank you, Madam Chairman.
[Motion carried: The Ministry of Youth, Social Develop-ment and Seniors, Heads 86, 23 and 55 were approved
and stand part of the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for the year 2025/26.]
The Chairman Chairman
For the benefit of the listening public, we will just switch Chair men of the Committee prior to moving on to the next debate, which will be Heads 9, 32, and 43, Cabinet. [Sen. John Wight, Chairman]
The Chairman Chairman
Senators, we are now in Committee of the Whole [Senate] for further consideration of the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for the year 2025/26. The heads to be debated are Head 9, on page B-38 regarding Cabinet Office; Head 32, on page B -57, the Department of Planning ; and …
Senators, we are now in Committee of
the Whole [Senate] for further consideration of the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for the year
2025/26. The heads to be debated are Head 9, on page
B-38 regarding Cabinet Office; Head 32, on page B -57,
the Department of Planning ; and Head 43, on page B -
62, Information and Digital Technology.
The time is 5:03 pm. The time allocated for the
Cabinet Ministry is two hours. The Junior Minister is Senator Fubler.
Senator, how do you wish to proceed?
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Thanks, Mr. Chairman. I will be
reading through the entirety of the brief before fielding
questions today.
the Whole [Senate] for further consideration of the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for the year
2025/26. The heads to be debated are Head 9, on page
B-38 regarding Cabinet Office; Head 32, on page B -57,
the Department of Planning ; and Head 43, on page B -
62, Information and Digital Technology.
The time is 5:03 pm. The time allocated for the
Cabinet Ministry is two hours. The Junior Minister is Senator Fubler.
Senator, how do you wish to proceed?
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Thanks, Mr. Chairman. I will be
reading through the entirety of the brief before fielding
questions today.
The Chairman Chairman
Very good, Senator Fubler. Thank you. Please proceed. CABINET OFFICE AND DIGITAL INNOVATION Sen. Mischa Fubler: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am pleased to present the budget for Head 9, the Cabinet Office, and Digital Innovation found on pages B -38 through B-44 and C -4, C-9, and C -17 …
Very good, Senator Fubler. Thank you.
Please proceed.
CABINET OFFICE
AND DIGITAL INNOVATION
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I am pleased to present the budget for Head 9,
the Cabinet Office, and Digital Innovation found on pages B -38 through B-44 and C -4, C-9, and C -17 of the
Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure 2025/26. HEAD 9 —CABINET OFFICE
Mandate or Mission
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Mr. Chairman, the Ministry of the
Cabinet Office and Digital Innovation operates at the
centre of the public service, providing leadership, advice, and guidance to ensure delivery of the Government's policies and government services. This direction
and st eering are supported by the budgets presented
herein.
Expenditure Overview
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Mr. Chairman, a total of
$13,834,000 for 2025/26 has been allocated for the
Head and constitutes approximately 26 per cent of the
budget allocated for the Ministry as a whole. This figure
represents an increase of $1,663,000, or approximately
14 per cent, over the previous fiscal year's figures due
primarily to salary uplifts, as negotiated with the Bermuda Public Service Union earlier this year, and additional spending under Digital Innovation, which I will detail further.
Revenue Overview
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Mr. Chairman, the revenue estimate for the subjective analysis of current accounts estimates for Head 9 is found on page B -41. The material
difference is accounted for in the reduction of the estimated fees to be collected from PATI fees, anticipating
that most requests will fall outside of the requirement to
charge any fees at all, therefore reducing the estimated amount by $45,000, or 90 per cent less than last year's
estimates.
Subjective Analysis
Sen. Mischa Fubler: The subjective analysis of current
account estimates of the Department of the Cabinet Of-fice may be found on page B -41. The main material differences in this year's budgets are due to salaries, pro-fessional services, and other expenses.
Salaries for this head have increased due to
the salary uplift noted earlier, and the addition of funding for two new posts in the London Office, as well as
the political assistant for the Minister, which can be
seen on page B -41. The total of those salary increases
is $629,000, which is a 9 per cent increase over the
previous fiscal year.
Mr. Chairman, the other notable difference is
the increase in professional services, which reflects a
strategic investment in providing funding to support the
Digital Transformation Team's activities, which accounts for the increase of $1,064,000. This represents a 39 per cent increase over the previous year, which is
a direct result of the Digital Transformation Team's establishment in 2024. For the sake of clarity,
332 5 June 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda Senate professional services within this cost centre also fund
essential roles and partnerships that bolster Bermuda's
global presence and domestic operations.
These include the consultants staffing the
Brussels and Washington Offices, a special advisor for
Middle Eastern Affairs and Policy, and a special representative to the Middle East and Africa. Additionally,
support services for the overseas offices are covered
along with lobbyists in Washington, DC, the Global
Health Platf orm Partner for the Wellness Initiative,
chairpersons for union negotiations, special contracts
for the PATI/PIPA Unit, and international media engagement partners.
Mr. Chairman, there is one notable material decrease from the previous year's figures of $50,000 due
to funding allocated in 2024/25 for the Foreign Office
anniversary celebration not required for this year's ac-tivities, which is noted on page B -40 in the line item of
the Brussels Office.
Capital Expenditure
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Capital development for this
head can be found on page C -4 of the Budget Book. It
details $1 million allocated for community clubs and
community investments.
Mr. Chairman, the Cabinet Office strategically
invests in Bermuda's community clubs and essential community initiatives. These vital allocations serve a
multifaceted purpose. They are dedicated to fostering
youth development through sports and enrichment pro-grammes, supporting crucial facility upgrades and infrastructure improvements for clubs and public spaces,
and providing critical aid to vulnerable populations through essential services.
Furthermore, these investments are designed
to stimulate local job creation and economic activity while actively addressing pressing social challenges
and promoting Bermuda's rich culture and sporting traditions. It is important to note that all grants are allocated based on submitted applications with decisions made through a thorough evaluation process to ensure
transparency and equitable distribution. Maintaining
these avenues of support underscores this Govern-ment's commitment to empowering community or ganisations and building a more resilient and inclusive Bermuda for all.
Capital Acquisitions
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Mr. Chairman, capital acquisitions can be found on page C -9 of the Budget Book and
total $520,000, with $20,000 allocated for office furni-ture and equipment, and $500,000 allocated to the Cooperative Food Supply Initiative.
Mr. Chairman, the Cooperative Food Initiative
is a multifaceted strategic effort designed to directly ad-dress the high cost of living, particularly food prices,
and enhance the Island's food security. Driven by the
observation that previous duty reductions have not consistently translated to lower consumer prices, the
initiative aims to introduce greater competition into the
grocery market.
This bold approach includes exploring the repurposing of existing government facilities for coopera-tive grocery operations. Beyond consumer affordability,
the Government strongly champions increased local
food production to reduce reliance on imports and b uild
Island- wide resilience. This broader commitment to the
cooperative model extends to wealth generation and
community ownership, with the Government poised to introduce Bermuda's first dedicated cooperative legislation in 2025, solidifying the legal framework for these
member -owned enterprises across various sectors.
Grants and Contributions
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Lastly, Mr. Chairman, I note that
grants and contributions as found on page C -17 show
an overall allocation of $78,000, which is the same as
the previous fiscal year's allocation, with $50,000 for future leaders, which includes $25,000 for scholarships.
Also captured in this category is a projected $25,000
for regional hurricane relief efforts that may be needed given predictions of a volatile hurricane season this
year.
The Cabinet Office is a key partner and supporter of the Future Leaders Programme, a youth- centric initiative that provides an intensive three- week summer programme dedicated to empowering bright and
passionate young Bermudians. It provides a unique
blend of academic study, hands -on community engagement, and invaluable mentorship, fostering a deep understanding of critical social issues from inequality to
leadership. The programme's core aim is to equip these
future leaders with t he skills, knowledge, and c onfidence to drive positive change and contribute meaningfully to Bermuda's ongoing development.
Continuing Bermuda's commitment to a regional hurricane relief fund is a powerful expression of
regional solidarity. Beyond the direct benefit of a safety
net, this investment significantly enhances Bermuda's
influence and strengthens its vital ties with t he wider
Caribbean. By actively participating in such collective mechanisms, Bermuda solidifies its role as a responsi-ble and engaged partner within the Caribbean community. This deepens reciprocal relationships, fosters
goodwill, and amplifies Bermuda's v oice within critical
regional bodies like the Caribbean Disaster Emergency
Management Agency (CDEMA), and CARICOM.
In an era of escalating climate challenges this
collaborative approach is not just about emergency response, it is about building a shared resilience and projecting Bermuda's leadership on the international
stage, reinforcing its reputation as a stable and supportive jurisdiction in the region.
Manpower
Bermuda Senate Sen. Mischa Fubler: Mr. Chairman, employee numbers can be found on page B -42 of the Budget Book,
and overall, there is a net increase of three employees
more than the previous fiscal year, or 6 per cent overall
increase in staffing. The overall staffing change is a result of decreases and increases across various business units.
Business unit 19000, which is General Administration, saw a reduction of two positions, a senior finance officer and a social media communications officer. Conversely, additions included one protocol of-ficer, in business unit 19010, Protocol and Hospitality,
one administrative officer in b usiness unit 19015, which
is Policy and Strategy, and two employees in the Lon-don Office, which is business unit 19035, and one Senior Finance Officer in b usiness unit 19040.
Performance Measures by Business Unit
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to
report that the department's forecast performance
measures for fiscal year 2024/25 were largely
achieved. I will now delve into the main business units,
showcasing their recent achievements and projecting
their strategic use of allocated resources.
Business Unit 19000, Administration
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Mr. Chairman, business unit
19000, Administration, serves as the central pillar for the strategic leadership and operational oversight of Bermuda's public service. This critical unit funds the
public service executive encompassing key leadership
roles such as the Head of the Publ ic Service, the Deputy Head of the Public Service, and all permanent secretaries, who are instrumental in driving ministerial ob-jectives. Additionally, it supports the Cabinet Secretary, who acts as the Premier's principal advisor on policy
and provides essential strategic administration support to Cabinet.
The unit also covers the necessary administrative support staff and Premier's aide, ensuring the
seamless functioning of government's highest levels in
the effective delivery of public service.
Business Unit 19010, Protocol and Official Hospitality
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Mr. Chairman, the Protocol and
Official Hospitality function is essential for upholding the Island's international reputation and ensuring the dignified execution of official engagements. This unit
acts as the primary guardian of diplomatic protocol and
official etiquette.
Mr. Chairman, the core responsibilities of this
unit include advising government officials, from the
Premier to the Governor's Office, on all matters of dip-lomatic conduct, such as precedents, forms of address,
flag etiquette, and ceremonial gift exchanges , ensuring
Bermuda adheres to international standards. They meticulously manage the logistics and ceremonial as-pects of official visits by foreign dignitaries, including
heads of state, ministers, and ambassadors, coordinating everything from their arrival and departure to their
official meetings, accommodations, and cultural engagements.
Additionally, Mr. Chairman, the unit is crucial
for the organisation and coordination of significant na-tional and ceremonial events, like state dinners and national celebrations, where strict adherence to formal
protocol is paramount. This extends to overs eeing the
proper use and management of key government venues for social hosting, such as Camden, and managing
the intricate process of issuing formal invitations and
compiling accurate guest lists for official functions. This
unit also serves as a vital li aison with foreign missions,
facilitating the accreditation of diplomatic representatives in Bermuda and fostering ongoing relationships.
Furthermore, Mr. Chairman, the Protocol and
Official Hospitality Unit plays a crucial role in upholding Bermuda's international standing and reputation for
graciousness. This unit meticulously coordinates official engagements, including national celebratio ns like
parades, ensuring adherence to diplomatic etiquette and cultural sensitivities. They also extend Bermuda's
warm welcome to returning sports teams and other significant groups, orchestrating arrival ceremonies and
hospitality arrangements that highl ight our appreciation
for their achievements and contributions to our Island's
pride.
Mr. Chairman, the unit's activities of the past
fiscal year emphasise the Protocol and Official Hospitality Unit's critical function in upholding Bermuda's standing in orchestrating key national moments. Their
meticulous work encompasses significant events such
as the arrival and swearing -in of the new governor, the
precise coordination of two Throne Speeches, and the
seamless management of the Premier's Annual Cup
Match reception.
Furthermore, Mr. Chairman, their expertise extended to facilitating crucial international engagements,
notably through successfully hosting the Public Administration and Consultation Affairs Committee (PACAC),
a select committee of the UK House of Commons, as
PACAC often examines the constitutional arrangements and the UK's relationship with its Overseas Territories. The unit ensured Bermuda's leading regional
role was a key focus of the visit, effectively showcasing
our Island.
Mr. Chairman, these highlights exemplify the
unit's invaluable contribution to Bermuda's dignified presence, both domestically and on the global stage.
Looking ahead, we are confident that the Protocol and
Official Hospitality Unit will continue its exempl ary work,
ensuring Bermuda's image remains impeccably up-held, and our international relationships are consistently strengthened in the coming year.
Business Unit 19015, Policy and Strategy
334 5 June 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda Senate Sen. Mischa Fubler: Mr. Chairman, the Policy and
Strategy Unit [PSU] is central to delivering better policymaking across government, directly improving Bermuda's economic, environmental, and social well -being. The PSU significantly enhances the policymaking
capabilities of our senior officers by providing targeted
training , including for those in the Executive Leadership
Programme. This support focusses on crafting robust
and implementable public policy, and includes workshops on writing and advancing Cabinet memoranda,
emphasising inter -ministerial coordination for a more
joined- up and effective government. The unit also offers strategic and technical guidance to the Cabinet Office, supporting the Public Service Executive in proper
record- keeping, and track ing progress on public administrative policy initiatives.
A key function of the PSU is serving as the Information Officer for the Cabinet Office. This entails
managing the strict legal obligations under the Public
Access to Information Act (or PATI Act) 2010, which requires processing and responding to PATI requests within specific timeframes, and annually reporting on all
requests received. This time- consuming, yet crucial
process is expertly managed by the unit.
Last year, the PSU achieved significant milestones. They played a central role in developing and implementing the Public Service Strategic Plan 2024 –
2027, a comprehensive blueprint for modernising the
public service with a focus on digital transformation,
customer centricity, and excellence.
The unit was instrumental in advancing the
Government's economic agenda, contributing to initiatives for stimulating job creation, attracting investment,
and supporting local businesses through policy review and framework development. Furthermore, the PSU
was at the forefront of policy development in crucial ar-eas, such as artificial intelligence policy, ensuring its ethical and responsible use within government operations. Their work also extended to facilitating legislative
reforms and contributing to soc ial initiatives aimed at
building a fairer and more inclusive Bermuda.
Specific achievements from the past year include ensuring the meticulous recording of public ser-vice executive meetings, successfully delivering training initiatives on Cabinet memoranda drafting and public policy development, enhancing governmental efficiency, providing comprehensive project support, including research, project management, and report submission for the Ministers and Members of the Legislature Salary Review, meticulously recording, tracking,
and periodically reporting on all T hrone Speech and
platform commitments, offering vital project support to
the Ministry of Economy and Labour for the Economic
Recovery Plan.
These highlights underscore the unit's invaluable contribution to Bermuda's dignified presence and strategic progress, both domestically and on the global
stage. In the coming fiscal year, the Policy and Strategy
Unit will continue to provide similar criti cal support for various government -wide initiatives, reinforcing strategic planning and execution across the public service.
Business Unit 19020, Safety and Health
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Mr. Chairman, the Safety and
Health business unit within the Ministry of the Cabinet
Office plays a critical role in safeguarding the well -being of all public officers and ensuring the operational
integrity of government facilities. Its core function is to
develop, implement, and monitor comprehensive occupational safety and health policies and programmes
across the entire public service.
This unit provides immense value by creating
a safer working environment, which in turn reduces
workplace incidents, minimises associated costs, for
example lost time and medical expenses, and en-hances overall productivity and morale within government departments.
Mr. Chairman, this Government's commitment
to a safe and healthy work environment has been
demonstrated through significant progress in the current fiscal year. Between April and August 2024, comprehensive safety and health audits were conducted
across numerous government facilities, including Lyceum Preschool, Westgate, the Farm Facility, Ward
Clinic, Delwood Middle School, the Co- Ed Facility, and
several government administration buildings. These efforts extended to site reviews at correctional facilities
and mould- contaminated government sites, done in
close coordination with environmental health, with fol-low-up reports detailing corrective action plans.
Mr. Chairman, in respect to safety policies and
programmes, the Government's new drug and alcohol policy was finalised, with procedures drafted and thoroughly reviewed in collaboration with the Department
of Employee and Organisational Development
(DEOD), the Government Laboratory, the Department
for National Drug Control, and the Bermuda Industrial Union. The initial phase of implementing this policy, including policy -specific Q&A sessions and integration
with HR systems and training rollout planned by DEO D
is now underway.
Regular monthly safety communications were
also sent to health and safety committees across all departments. Furthermore, Mr. Chairman, over a dozen
workplace and building inspections and hazard reviews
were completed across multiple ministries. Critical i ssues such as mould, ventilation failures, storm damage, fall hazards, and overcrowding risks in administrative buildings were addressed.
Mr. Chairman, the Occupational Safety and
Health [OSH] Officer also reviewed contractor safety
practices and risk control protocols during live electrical works, ensuring adherence to the highest standards.
These efforts directly contributed to an increase in compliance and training, with OSH training delivered to
multiple departments covering topics like introduction
Bermuda Senate to OSH, workplace accident investigations, and health
and safety committee duties.
Guidance materials and safety orientation
slides were also prepared for onboarding, and targeted
support was provided to departments seeking assis-tance with health and safety engagement and compliance.
Looking ahead to fiscal year 2025/26, Mr.
Chairman, the Government plans to execute a comprehensive, government -wide workplace safety audit
across all ministries, excluding the uniformed services
and the judiciary. Additionally, a centralised risk registry
will be developed to track performance and regulatory
compliance and expand the training curriculum to include crucial topics such as chemical safety and hazard
communication, workplace violence and harassment
prevention, and fire safety and emergency evacuation.
Mr. Chairman, another aim is to launch an internal health and safety hub, which will feature a digital
incident reporting platform to streamline safety alerts
and corrective actions, and relaunch ministry -level
health and safety committees with refreshed t erms of
reference and accountability frameworks, a further testament to this Government's commitment to a safe and
healthy public service.
Business Unit 19035, London Office
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Mr. Chairman, the London Office
continues to drive forward Bermuda's relationship with the United Kingdom through highest -level dialogue with
the UK Government and by continued engagement
with departments of His Majesty's Government across
Whitehall.
The Office continues to work in cohesion with
governments of the Overseas Territories on shared pol-icy areas and engaging collectively with both Houses of the UK Parliament, the Diplomatic Corps, such as embassies and high commissions, the United Kingdom
Overseas Territories Association, the Commonwealth
Secretariat, along with all UK -based Commonwealth
associations, the general UK public to include the private sector, civil societies and those who have a general or vested interest in Bermuda, such as the B ermuda Society, and importantly, Bermudians living in
the UK, including our students.
Mr. Chairman, the London Office continues to
provide the necessary immediate assistance and guid-ance throughout its consular function to Bermudians
living and studying in the UK, throughout Europe and, on occasion, Bermudians in other parts of the world.
Mr. Chairman, the London Office has created
a reassignment position of a Deputy UK Representa-tive to facilitate a greater focus on delivering investment
opportunities by working with the relevant UK Government departments and other key stakeholders in the UK as part of the Government's economic diplomacy
objective. The intention is to make this position permanent, and it will allow greater focus for the increased amount and complexity of counsellor cases. The London Office will continue to offer placement opportunities
for internships as well as summer students through
partnership with the Department of Workforce Development.
Business Unit 19 040, Ministry Administration
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Mr. Chairman, business unit
19040, designated as Ministry Administration, serves
as the central operational hub for the Ministry of the Cabinet Office and Digital Innovation. This unit is fundamental to the Ministry's efficient functioning, providing vital infrastructure and support. It s core responsibilities include directly supporting the Minister for the Cab-inet Office and Digital Innovation and coordinating all
departments and units under the Ministry's purview.
Mr. Chairman, the key departments and functions falling within its strategic and operational oversight are the Post Office, Libraries and Archives, Planning, Information and Digital Technologies, Communication, Employee and Organisational Development and
Project Management and Procurement. This centralised coordination ensures seamless communication, aligned strategic direction and integrated efforts across
this diverse portfolio, ultimately contributing to a unified
and responsive government administration and the effective delivery of public service.
Business Unit 19 045, Washington, DC Office
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Mr. Chairman, the Washington,
DC Office is mandated to cultivate essential relationships with both business and government stakeholders, championing Bermuda's financial services and engaging in constructive dialogue with US political
thought leaders to safeguard the Island's economic interests.
Mr. Chairman, for the fiscal term 2024/25, the
DC Office successfully met all its key objectives. These
included actively engaging with vital contacts to inform
US thought leaders about Bermuda's pivotal role as an
international financial services centre and a premier
tourist destination. The O ffice also executed associated
business development functions and provided crucial
advice on emerging US policies and legislative
measures that could impact Bermuda.
Furthermore, it advised on and managed direct
engagements by the Premier and Ministers with their
DC contacts while also identifying opportunities to promote Bermuda's environmental initiatives. As a direct
result of these efforts, the O ffice was able to strengthen
bipartisan relationships with US lawmakers to safe-guard Bermuda's interests and maintain strategic visibility. It provided valuable guidance on navigating shifts
within the US administration and diligently monitored
and advised on emerging US pol icies impacting Bermuda, including those related to taxation, digital assets,
financial services, and trade.
336 5 June 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda Senate The Office successfully facilitated high -level
engagements for the Premier and Ministers to Washington, DC and Wyoming, coordinating meetings with
members of Congress, federal agencies, and business
leaders. It also actively promoted Bermuda's financial service s, digital assets, and insurance and reinsurance
sectors with targeted efforts to attract family offices and
individuals of high net worth.
Additionally, the office highlighted Bermuda as
a premier destination for tourism and business through
dedicated industry engagement and spoke at leading US FinTech conferences to showcase Bermuda's regulatory leadership and innovation- friendly digital ass et
framework.
Lastly, the O ffice effectively advocated against
US measures that could disrupt the Island's shipping
and trade flows. For the same fiscal term, the DC Office partially met its key performance measures, demonstrating considerable progress. Regarding the objective
of en gaging with US organisations in the digital asset
and FinTech industry to host at least one conference in
Bermuda, the office held engaging discussions with
several digital asset conference organisers and assisted partners in Bermuda in facili tating a digital asset
conference now scheduled for May 2025.
Concerning the goal of securing three business
leads resulting in meaningful engagement or progression in domiciling companies in Bermuda, the Office successfully drew the interest of four companies to
begin the necessary actions to explore domiciling in
Bermuda. Finally, for creating and maintaining an upto-date database of Bermudian college students residing in the US, the O ffice, in conjunction with relevant
ministries, developed a framework for a Bermuda Col-lege database with implementation sought for the upcoming fiscal term.
Looking ahead to the 2025/26 fiscal year, the
planned objectives of the DC Office are concentrated
in three key areas, US political and government en-gagement, business development, and the image and
actions of the DC Office. The specific performance
measures set for 2025/26 include engaging with US organisers in the digital asset and Fi nTech industry or in
family offices that result in having at least one conference or event hosted in Bermuda. They also aim to secure three business leads resulting in meaningful engagement or progression in domiciling companies in
Bermuda. Finally, the Office intends to finalise, implement, and maintain an up- to-date database of Bermudian college students residing in the United States.
Business Unit 19075, Brussels Office
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Mr. Chairman, the mandate of
the Brussels Office continues to be the maintenance of relationships with key stakeholders and decision mak-ers in Brussels while establishing and maintaining connections. The objectives of the Brussels Office for fiscal
term 2024/25 remain as maintaining close dialogue
with the European Commission, Council, and European Parliament and other EU institutions, facilitating
access of the Premier and Ministers to key persons in upholding the Government's presence in Europe, and
working in cohesion with the Ministry of Finance and
the Bermuda Monetary Authority to support Bermuda's
global position as a robust regulatory financial regime
with a primary function to ensure continuous dialogue
with the European Council.
Business Unit 19 080, Office of the Head
of the Public Service
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Mr. Chairman, the Office of the
Head of the Public Service holds direct responsibility
for all internal operations within the public service. Its
primary objective is to transform and modernise the
service with a substantial focus on training and development, customer service, and maintaining standards
of excellence.
This office's comprehensive mandate covers
the full spectrum of public service management. This
unit spearheads government -wide reform initiatives
such as the Public Service Strategic Plan 2024 –2027.
It ensures that all ministries and departments adhere to
the core values of being customer -centric, future- focused, and committed to promoting prosperity. Upholding the highest standards of public service is central to
its mission.
Mr. Chairman, a pivotal area of concentration
is attracting, developing, and retaining top talent within the public service. Over the past year, significant progress has been made in advancing the Reimagining
Careers in the Public Service initiative. This initiative
addresses recruitment, retention, succession planning,
and training needs.
The launch of a Public Service Career Guide
accompanied efforts by public officers acting as ambassadors to promote careers in the service, raising
awareness about the Career Guide, and generating interest in various training programmes designed to attract trainees and apprentices to both technical and
professional roles such as marine pilots, maritime controllers, engineers, and a variety of industrial positions,
including plumbers and electricians. These initiatives
are further bolstered through formal learning agreements with signature schools and active participation in school career days and assemblies.
For current public officers, considerable emphasis has been placed on developing capacity at the
executive leadership and mid- management levels.
Over 20 public officers involved in the Leadership Development Programme have benefited from exposure
to execut ive coaching and advanced policy development protocols via participation in the UAE Executive Leadership Programme, which included both remote
and in- person learning components.
Bermuda Senate At the supervisory level, a tailored supervisory
training programme was created and launched specifically for industrial employees to ensure they possess
the necessary skills and knowledge to grow professionally and transition smoothly into supervisory rol es.
Mr. Chairman, the dynamic interactions between the public service as an employer and its union
partners have been strengthened through collaborative
engagement and joint training on interest -based bargaining techniques. This initiative included all union partners and successfully commenced the negotiation
season.
Joint negotiations resulted in a framework
agreement for salary increases over a four -year period
across all unions, followed by individual negotiations
with each union to address non- financial clauses of our
seven collective bargaining agreements, which i s the
current phase in progress.
While the standard cost -of-living increase has
been awarded to ensure that government employees
maintain purchasing power, which has been eroded over the years owing to austerity measures and salary
freezes, the work with PwC on the modernisation of the
Government Job Evaluation Initiative concluded with
the delivery of an assessment on salary competitiveness when compared with market value based on similar positions in the private sector and in other jurisdictions, as well as the delivery of a new job eval uation
tool. A job evaluation assesses a job's duties, responsibilities, required skills, and overall contribution to the
delivery of public services. It helps to establish fair and equitable pay scales for the various roles.
Implementation planning to transition to the
new job evaluation tool based on the PwC proposed competency -based model is now in progress. It is expected that the new tool and the new grading model will provide opportunities to address issues related to re-cruiting into hard- to-fill roles and the retention of top talent.
Mr. Chairman, increased efficiencies have
been realised via operational changes to support re-cruitment. Managers have been trained to conduct their
own recruitment efforts, as opposed to being completely reliant on the limited resources at the Depart-ment o f Employee and Organisational Development.
Further, steps have been taken to implement a more
streamlined recruitment process, which is complemented by planned amendments to the Public Service
Commission Regulations. Our commitment to enhancing the operati onal efficiency and effectiveness of the
public service, ensuring it meets the evolving demands
and expectations of both the workforce and the public.
Mr. Chairman, it is understood that effective
communication is essential for good customer service. Therefore, the government website features a customer feedback form, now complemented by QR -
coded posters providing access to the customer feedback form that are actively being placed in customer
service areas. Responses to queries, complaints, and compliments are managed in accordance with specific
service standards.
Data is analysed to identify problem areas requiring added resources and/or corrective action to mitigate service issues and to ensure high quality and timely customer responses. While we are working toward meeting our response goals, plans include increas ed training in this area.
Mr. Chairman, the initiatives outlined demonstrate our unwavering commitment to fostering a modern, efficient, and responsive public service. By invest-ing in our people, streamlining operations, and prioritising citizen engagement, we are building a public service that is well- equipped to meet the evolving needs of
our country.
Business Unit 19 085, PATI/PIPA Unit
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Mr. Chairman, next I will address
business unit 190 85, the PATI/PIPA Unit, where there
was continued achievement of the established
measures and its expenditures remain largely identical
to last year's figures at $862,000. The PATI/PIPA Unit
is responsible for both the Public Access to Information
Act 2010 and the Personal Information Protection Act
2016.
Mr. Chairman, for PATI, the unit continues to
maintain and enhance the PATI Administrative Code of
Practice, deliver targeted guidance to public authorities, and provide comprehensive information officer
training. During 2024/25, the unit coordinated the u pdate of the legislation and regulations and implemented significant updates to administrative procedures.
For PIPA, the unit continued to develop the
government's privacy programme. This included delivering training, establishing documentation and templates, and advancing our international privacy recognition strategy. A key focus was coordinating readiness
activities ahead of PIPA coming into force on 1 January
2025. Additionally, legislative activities supported the
transition of personal information requests from PATI to
PIPA and the harmonisation of the Electronic Transaction Act (ETA) with PIPA.
Mr. Chairman, as this Honourable [Senate] is
aware, the G overnment's operations require interaction
with the public and international partners, involving information exchange through both traditional and digital
channels. This reality underscores the importance of
embedding information rights and privacy principles throughout our operations.
Mr. Chairman, as we continue to manage and
refine the PATI framework, we envision a future where
access to information facilitates greater civic participation, supports evidence- based policy development, and
contributes to Bermuda's standing as a modern, w ellgoverned jurisdiction. The journey toward fully -realised
information access requires sustained effort from all stakeholders, public authorities working towards proactive disclosure and improved disclosure practices,
338 5 June 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda Senate residents engaging thoughtfully with the information,
and the PATI/PIPA Unit providing guidance to navigate
complex information ecosystems.
While challenges remain in balancing transparency with other important considerations, such as pri-vacy and security, the pursuit of these principles offer
potential benefits for Government effectiveness, civic
engagement, and jurisdictional reputation that extend
well beyond mere regulatory compliance.
Mr. Chairman, like the evolution of PATI, the
Government also promotes the premise that privacy
protection is not a destination, but rather a continuing
journey that requires ongoing attention and adaptation.
As processes change, technology evolves, and new
privacy challenges emerge. The Government's privacy
programme will continue to mature and develop. This
evolutionary approach benefits both individuals and the Government. Through consistent application of privacy
principles and regular programme assessment, the
Government strengthens its ability to deliver services
effectively while protecting the fundamental right to pri-vacy.
Mr. Chairman, the Government's PIPA experiences may be seen as similar to other organisations across Bermuda as they operationalise privacy protec-tion while honouring individuals' privacy rights. The
foundational privacy principles that underlie PIPA are
as follows :
• Lawfulness, fairness, and transparency in the
handling of personal information.
• Purpose limitation to ensure information is only used for specified purposes.
• Proportionality or minimisation to ensure collection and use is adequate but not excessive.
• Accuracy and integrity of personal information.
Appropriate retention periods.
• Security safeguards against risks.
• Controls on transfers of personal information.
• Accountability of organisations for compliance.
These principles work together to protect individual privacy rights while enabling the effective and legitimate use of personal information within organisations.
Mr. Chairman, looking ahead to 2025/26, the
unit's priority activities will encompass refinement of
their organisational structure to optimise service delivery, implementation of necessary legislative updates and compliance measures, development of strategic
and operational frameworks to support PATI and PIPA
requirements, continued enhancement of guidance materials and templates, ongoing support to public authorities in meeting their statutory obligations, strengthening relationships with regulatory author ities, expansion of training and awareness initiatives, and enabling
recognition of comparable jurisdictions.
Mr. Chairman, with PIPA now fully operational
as of January 1, 2025, its impact extends across the
entire jurisdiction. While the Privacy Commissioner provides overarching guidance, the unit works in collaboration with the regulator to enable international
equivalence pursuits, elements that reach across the public and private sectors, and identification of certification mechanisms that might be used to demonstrate
compliance.
Mr. Chairman, in today's interconnected digital
economy, Bermuda's ability to participate in interna-tional data flows is not merely advantageous, it is essential for our jurisdiction's continued prosperity. Our
businesses and government operations increasi ngly
rely on cloud services and international data processing capabilities to deliver efficient, cost -effective
services to our community. The PATI/PIPA Unit plays
a crucial role in enabling these operations by working
to establish privacy equivalency arrangements with key
international partners. Our efforts towards privacy and
data protection equivalence recognition, participation in certification programmes, and engagement with various jurisdictions demonstrate our commitment to meeting international standards. These initiatives are particularly vital as our jurisdiction navigates the complex requirements for international data transfers under PIPA
section 15.
The Office of the Privacy Commissioner has
communicated guidance to help organisations assess
and document transfer impacts, implement appropriate
safeguards and maintain compliance while leveraging modern technologies. This balanced approach ensures
that Bermuda can benefit from global technological advances while maintaining appropriate protection for
personal information regardless of where it is processed.
Mr. Chairman, effective records management
forms the foundation of meaningful public access to in-formation. During 2024/25, the Unit undertook significant work to develop the PATI Records Management
Code of Practice, which will provide comprehensive
guidance on how public authorities should create,
maintain, and preserve official records. This code is essential for ensuring that public records remain accessible, authentic, and reliable throughout their life cycle.
Mr. Chairman, the Code looks to address challenges in digital record- keeping, including requirements
for managing information across cloud platforms and
collaborative systems. We have worked closely with the Archives, and the Code provides detailed guidanc e
on managing hybrid paper and digital environments,
ensuring consistent handling of records regardless of
format. These improvements directly support public au-thorities in meeting their statutory obligations while promoting greater transparency and accountability in government operations. The effectiveness of PATI fundamentally depends on the government’s ability to
properly manage government records, and this Code of
Practice provides the robust framework needed to support that goal.
Mr. Chairman, the PATI and PIPA legislations
require far more than mere regulatory compliance.
Bermuda Senate These frameworks are fundamental pillars supporting
Bermuda's position in the modern global economy.
PATI demonstrates our commitment to transparent and accountable governance. PIPA, in turn, establishes Bermuda as a jurisdiction that upholds inter-national standards for personal information protection,
a critical factor as data flows become increasingly c entral to worldwide commerce.
Mr. Chairman, the unit remains committed to
supporting Bermuda's position as a trusted jurisdiction
for information handling while ensuring effective protec-tion of privacy rights. This work directly contributes to
both our economic interests and the protec tion of individual rights.
Business Unit 19090, Digital Transformation
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Mr. Chairman, created in 2024,
the Digital Transformation Team (DTT) is responsible
for modernising how public services are designed, delivered and accessed in Bermuda. Its core mandate is to streamline Government operations through digitisation, with a focus on improving service delivery and enhancing the citizen experience and increasing operational efficiency.
The team leads the development of digital
forms and low -code applications, supports departments in transitioning from manual to digital processes, and drives the adoption of user -centric platforms such
as the One- Stop Shop. DTT also plays a key role in
piloting artificial intelligence tools, such as chatbots and
automated workflows, to ensure responsiveness and to
reduce administrative burdens.
Working closely with client ministries and departments, the Department of Information and Digital
Technologies, and other stakeholders, DTT ensures that digital initiatives are aligned with strategic priorities and delivered in a secure, coordinated, and s calable
way.
Since its formation in the previous fiscal year,
Mr. Chairman, the team has made significant progress in digital service delivery. Key accomplishments include developing and launching over 30 digital forms
and applications to streamline service delivery ac ross
a wide range of public -facing and internal government
functions. These include critical services such as Public
Service Vehicle Licence and Accident Reporting at
TCD, the Asthma Action Plan, and Financial Assistance Short -Term Relief. The team also bu ilt tools to
support public engagement and transparency, such as
the Dog Licence Lookup, Bermuda National Hero Nomination Form, and the Annual Occupational Safety Report. Internal Government processes were also digitised, including the new Cabinet Memo Sys tem, Privacy
Registration Booking, and Feedback Form Enhance-ments. These forms collectively support operational im-provements while also laying the groundwork for integrated, paperless public service delivery. Launching the One- Stop Shop, which is a centralised portal, offering citizens seamless access to
Government services via forms.gov.bm.
Development of the Social Insurance Site, a
digitised suite of forms, including a real -time lookup tool
for social insurance numbers, modernising access to
critical benefits, and of course, reducing calls to the department.
Rollout of the Government Payment Portal,
which enables secure online payments for Government
services. This includes the parking tickets application, which allows the public to pay fines online. Ongoing development of the ShoreLink chatbot, an AI -driven t ool
designed to support digital customer service and provide automated responses to common queries. Continued work on digital literacy and public service upskilling, ensuring that Government employees are bet-ter equipped to use and manage digital tools.
Mr. Chairman, with the funding grants for fiscal
year 2025/26, the Digital Transformation Team will fo-cus on
• expanding the One- Stop Shop, adding new
services and integrating a single sign- on solution to improve user experience;
• deploying the Unified Payment Platform, which
is consolidating fragmented payment methods
into one secure integrated system that con-nects with the E1 financial system;
• launching AI -driven [service] automation pilots
and chatbot functionality to enhance customer service responsiveness;
• further digitising forms and services with the
goal of reducing manual processes and improving turnaround time for both internal and public facing requests; and
• engaging a strategic partner within available
budget constraints to support highly technical
work, particularly for secure infrastructure development, payment platform integration and
advanced AI implementations.
The strategic partner will provide specialised
expertise to complement internal capabilities and accelerate delivery of complex initiatives. The team will
continue to work in close collaboration with client de-partments, IDT, and external partners to ensure that
digital investments produce lasting value for the public
and the government.
Mr. Chairman, this concludes my presentation
on the budgets for the Cabinet Office, Head 9.
Please proceed.
CABINET OFFICE
AND DIGITAL INNOVATION
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I am pleased to present the budget for Head 9,
the Cabinet Office, and Digital Innovation found on pages B -38 through B-44 and C -4, C-9, and C -17 of the
Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure 2025/26. HEAD 9 —CABINET OFFICE
Mandate or Mission
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Mr. Chairman, the Ministry of the
Cabinet Office and Digital Innovation operates at the
centre of the public service, providing leadership, advice, and guidance to ensure delivery of the Government's policies and government services. This direction
and st eering are supported by the budgets presented
herein.
Expenditure Overview
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Mr. Chairman, a total of
$13,834,000 for 2025/26 has been allocated for the
Head and constitutes approximately 26 per cent of the
budget allocated for the Ministry as a whole. This figure
represents an increase of $1,663,000, or approximately
14 per cent, over the previous fiscal year's figures due
primarily to salary uplifts, as negotiated with the Bermuda Public Service Union earlier this year, and additional spending under Digital Innovation, which I will detail further.
Revenue Overview
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Mr. Chairman, the revenue estimate for the subjective analysis of current accounts estimates for Head 9 is found on page B -41. The material
difference is accounted for in the reduction of the estimated fees to be collected from PATI fees, anticipating
that most requests will fall outside of the requirement to
charge any fees at all, therefore reducing the estimated amount by $45,000, or 90 per cent less than last year's
estimates.
Subjective Analysis
Sen. Mischa Fubler: The subjective analysis of current
account estimates of the Department of the Cabinet Of-fice may be found on page B -41. The main material differences in this year's budgets are due to salaries, pro-fessional services, and other expenses.
Salaries for this head have increased due to
the salary uplift noted earlier, and the addition of funding for two new posts in the London Office, as well as
the political assistant for the Minister, which can be
seen on page B -41. The total of those salary increases
is $629,000, which is a 9 per cent increase over the
previous fiscal year.
Mr. Chairman, the other notable difference is
the increase in professional services, which reflects a
strategic investment in providing funding to support the
Digital Transformation Team's activities, which accounts for the increase of $1,064,000. This represents a 39 per cent increase over the previous year, which is
a direct result of the Digital Transformation Team's establishment in 2024. For the sake of clarity,
332 5 June 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda Senate professional services within this cost centre also fund
essential roles and partnerships that bolster Bermuda's
global presence and domestic operations.
These include the consultants staffing the
Brussels and Washington Offices, a special advisor for
Middle Eastern Affairs and Policy, and a special representative to the Middle East and Africa. Additionally,
support services for the overseas offices are covered
along with lobbyists in Washington, DC, the Global
Health Platf orm Partner for the Wellness Initiative,
chairpersons for union negotiations, special contracts
for the PATI/PIPA Unit, and international media engagement partners.
Mr. Chairman, there is one notable material decrease from the previous year's figures of $50,000 due
to funding allocated in 2024/25 for the Foreign Office
anniversary celebration not required for this year's ac-tivities, which is noted on page B -40 in the line item of
the Brussels Office.
Capital Expenditure
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Capital development for this
head can be found on page C -4 of the Budget Book. It
details $1 million allocated for community clubs and
community investments.
Mr. Chairman, the Cabinet Office strategically
invests in Bermuda's community clubs and essential community initiatives. These vital allocations serve a
multifaceted purpose. They are dedicated to fostering
youth development through sports and enrichment pro-grammes, supporting crucial facility upgrades and infrastructure improvements for clubs and public spaces,
and providing critical aid to vulnerable populations through essential services.
Furthermore, these investments are designed
to stimulate local job creation and economic activity while actively addressing pressing social challenges
and promoting Bermuda's rich culture and sporting traditions. It is important to note that all grants are allocated based on submitted applications with decisions made through a thorough evaluation process to ensure
transparency and equitable distribution. Maintaining
these avenues of support underscores this Govern-ment's commitment to empowering community or ganisations and building a more resilient and inclusive Bermuda for all.
Capital Acquisitions
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Mr. Chairman, capital acquisitions can be found on page C -9 of the Budget Book and
total $520,000, with $20,000 allocated for office furni-ture and equipment, and $500,000 allocated to the Cooperative Food Supply Initiative.
Mr. Chairman, the Cooperative Food Initiative
is a multifaceted strategic effort designed to directly ad-dress the high cost of living, particularly food prices,
and enhance the Island's food security. Driven by the
observation that previous duty reductions have not consistently translated to lower consumer prices, the
initiative aims to introduce greater competition into the
grocery market.
This bold approach includes exploring the repurposing of existing government facilities for coopera-tive grocery operations. Beyond consumer affordability,
the Government strongly champions increased local
food production to reduce reliance on imports and b uild
Island- wide resilience. This broader commitment to the
cooperative model extends to wealth generation and
community ownership, with the Government poised to introduce Bermuda's first dedicated cooperative legislation in 2025, solidifying the legal framework for these
member -owned enterprises across various sectors.
Grants and Contributions
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Lastly, Mr. Chairman, I note that
grants and contributions as found on page C -17 show
an overall allocation of $78,000, which is the same as
the previous fiscal year's allocation, with $50,000 for future leaders, which includes $25,000 for scholarships.
Also captured in this category is a projected $25,000
for regional hurricane relief efforts that may be needed given predictions of a volatile hurricane season this
year.
The Cabinet Office is a key partner and supporter of the Future Leaders Programme, a youth- centric initiative that provides an intensive three- week summer programme dedicated to empowering bright and
passionate young Bermudians. It provides a unique
blend of academic study, hands -on community engagement, and invaluable mentorship, fostering a deep understanding of critical social issues from inequality to
leadership. The programme's core aim is to equip these
future leaders with t he skills, knowledge, and c onfidence to drive positive change and contribute meaningfully to Bermuda's ongoing development.
Continuing Bermuda's commitment to a regional hurricane relief fund is a powerful expression of
regional solidarity. Beyond the direct benefit of a safety
net, this investment significantly enhances Bermuda's
influence and strengthens its vital ties with t he wider
Caribbean. By actively participating in such collective mechanisms, Bermuda solidifies its role as a responsi-ble and engaged partner within the Caribbean community. This deepens reciprocal relationships, fosters
goodwill, and amplifies Bermuda's v oice within critical
regional bodies like the Caribbean Disaster Emergency
Management Agency (CDEMA), and CARICOM.
In an era of escalating climate challenges this
collaborative approach is not just about emergency response, it is about building a shared resilience and projecting Bermuda's leadership on the international
stage, reinforcing its reputation as a stable and supportive jurisdiction in the region.
Manpower
Bermuda Senate Sen. Mischa Fubler: Mr. Chairman, employee numbers can be found on page B -42 of the Budget Book,
and overall, there is a net increase of three employees
more than the previous fiscal year, or 6 per cent overall
increase in staffing. The overall staffing change is a result of decreases and increases across various business units.
Business unit 19000, which is General Administration, saw a reduction of two positions, a senior finance officer and a social media communications officer. Conversely, additions included one protocol of-ficer, in business unit 19010, Protocol and Hospitality,
one administrative officer in b usiness unit 19015, which
is Policy and Strategy, and two employees in the Lon-don Office, which is business unit 19035, and one Senior Finance Officer in b usiness unit 19040.
Performance Measures by Business Unit
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to
report that the department's forecast performance
measures for fiscal year 2024/25 were largely
achieved. I will now delve into the main business units,
showcasing their recent achievements and projecting
their strategic use of allocated resources.
Business Unit 19000, Administration
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Mr. Chairman, business unit
19000, Administration, serves as the central pillar for the strategic leadership and operational oversight of Bermuda's public service. This critical unit funds the
public service executive encompassing key leadership
roles such as the Head of the Publ ic Service, the Deputy Head of the Public Service, and all permanent secretaries, who are instrumental in driving ministerial ob-jectives. Additionally, it supports the Cabinet Secretary, who acts as the Premier's principal advisor on policy
and provides essential strategic administration support to Cabinet.
The unit also covers the necessary administrative support staff and Premier's aide, ensuring the
seamless functioning of government's highest levels in
the effective delivery of public service.
Business Unit 19010, Protocol and Official Hospitality
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Mr. Chairman, the Protocol and
Official Hospitality function is essential for upholding the Island's international reputation and ensuring the dignified execution of official engagements. This unit
acts as the primary guardian of diplomatic protocol and
official etiquette.
Mr. Chairman, the core responsibilities of this
unit include advising government officials, from the
Premier to the Governor's Office, on all matters of dip-lomatic conduct, such as precedents, forms of address,
flag etiquette, and ceremonial gift exchanges , ensuring
Bermuda adheres to international standards. They meticulously manage the logistics and ceremonial as-pects of official visits by foreign dignitaries, including
heads of state, ministers, and ambassadors, coordinating everything from their arrival and departure to their
official meetings, accommodations, and cultural engagements.
Additionally, Mr. Chairman, the unit is crucial
for the organisation and coordination of significant na-tional and ceremonial events, like state dinners and national celebrations, where strict adherence to formal
protocol is paramount. This extends to overs eeing the
proper use and management of key government venues for social hosting, such as Camden, and managing
the intricate process of issuing formal invitations and
compiling accurate guest lists for official functions. This
unit also serves as a vital li aison with foreign missions,
facilitating the accreditation of diplomatic representatives in Bermuda and fostering ongoing relationships.
Furthermore, Mr. Chairman, the Protocol and
Official Hospitality Unit plays a crucial role in upholding Bermuda's international standing and reputation for
graciousness. This unit meticulously coordinates official engagements, including national celebratio ns like
parades, ensuring adherence to diplomatic etiquette and cultural sensitivities. They also extend Bermuda's
warm welcome to returning sports teams and other significant groups, orchestrating arrival ceremonies and
hospitality arrangements that highl ight our appreciation
for their achievements and contributions to our Island's
pride.
Mr. Chairman, the unit's activities of the past
fiscal year emphasise the Protocol and Official Hospitality Unit's critical function in upholding Bermuda's standing in orchestrating key national moments. Their
meticulous work encompasses significant events such
as the arrival and swearing -in of the new governor, the
precise coordination of two Throne Speeches, and the
seamless management of the Premier's Annual Cup
Match reception.
Furthermore, Mr. Chairman, their expertise extended to facilitating crucial international engagements,
notably through successfully hosting the Public Administration and Consultation Affairs Committee (PACAC),
a select committee of the UK House of Commons, as
PACAC often examines the constitutional arrangements and the UK's relationship with its Overseas Territories. The unit ensured Bermuda's leading regional
role was a key focus of the visit, effectively showcasing
our Island.
Mr. Chairman, these highlights exemplify the
unit's invaluable contribution to Bermuda's dignified presence, both domestically and on the global stage.
Looking ahead, we are confident that the Protocol and
Official Hospitality Unit will continue its exempl ary work,
ensuring Bermuda's image remains impeccably up-held, and our international relationships are consistently strengthened in the coming year.
Business Unit 19015, Policy and Strategy
334 5 June 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda Senate Sen. Mischa Fubler: Mr. Chairman, the Policy and
Strategy Unit [PSU] is central to delivering better policymaking across government, directly improving Bermuda's economic, environmental, and social well -being. The PSU significantly enhances the policymaking
capabilities of our senior officers by providing targeted
training , including for those in the Executive Leadership
Programme. This support focusses on crafting robust
and implementable public policy, and includes workshops on writing and advancing Cabinet memoranda,
emphasising inter -ministerial coordination for a more
joined- up and effective government. The unit also offers strategic and technical guidance to the Cabinet Office, supporting the Public Service Executive in proper
record- keeping, and track ing progress on public administrative policy initiatives.
A key function of the PSU is serving as the Information Officer for the Cabinet Office. This entails
managing the strict legal obligations under the Public
Access to Information Act (or PATI Act) 2010, which requires processing and responding to PATI requests within specific timeframes, and annually reporting on all
requests received. This time- consuming, yet crucial
process is expertly managed by the unit.
Last year, the PSU achieved significant milestones. They played a central role in developing and implementing the Public Service Strategic Plan 2024 –
2027, a comprehensive blueprint for modernising the
public service with a focus on digital transformation,
customer centricity, and excellence.
The unit was instrumental in advancing the
Government's economic agenda, contributing to initiatives for stimulating job creation, attracting investment,
and supporting local businesses through policy review and framework development. Furthermore, the PSU
was at the forefront of policy development in crucial ar-eas, such as artificial intelligence policy, ensuring its ethical and responsible use within government operations. Their work also extended to facilitating legislative
reforms and contributing to soc ial initiatives aimed at
building a fairer and more inclusive Bermuda.
Specific achievements from the past year include ensuring the meticulous recording of public ser-vice executive meetings, successfully delivering training initiatives on Cabinet memoranda drafting and public policy development, enhancing governmental efficiency, providing comprehensive project support, including research, project management, and report submission for the Ministers and Members of the Legislature Salary Review, meticulously recording, tracking,
and periodically reporting on all T hrone Speech and
platform commitments, offering vital project support to
the Ministry of Economy and Labour for the Economic
Recovery Plan.
These highlights underscore the unit's invaluable contribution to Bermuda's dignified presence and strategic progress, both domestically and on the global
stage. In the coming fiscal year, the Policy and Strategy
Unit will continue to provide similar criti cal support for various government -wide initiatives, reinforcing strategic planning and execution across the public service.
Business Unit 19020, Safety and Health
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Mr. Chairman, the Safety and
Health business unit within the Ministry of the Cabinet
Office plays a critical role in safeguarding the well -being of all public officers and ensuring the operational
integrity of government facilities. Its core function is to
develop, implement, and monitor comprehensive occupational safety and health policies and programmes
across the entire public service.
This unit provides immense value by creating
a safer working environment, which in turn reduces
workplace incidents, minimises associated costs, for
example lost time and medical expenses, and en-hances overall productivity and morale within government departments.
Mr. Chairman, this Government's commitment
to a safe and healthy work environment has been
demonstrated through significant progress in the current fiscal year. Between April and August 2024, comprehensive safety and health audits were conducted
across numerous government facilities, including Lyceum Preschool, Westgate, the Farm Facility, Ward
Clinic, Delwood Middle School, the Co- Ed Facility, and
several government administration buildings. These efforts extended to site reviews at correctional facilities
and mould- contaminated government sites, done in
close coordination with environmental health, with fol-low-up reports detailing corrective action plans.
Mr. Chairman, in respect to safety policies and
programmes, the Government's new drug and alcohol policy was finalised, with procedures drafted and thoroughly reviewed in collaboration with the Department
of Employee and Organisational Development
(DEOD), the Government Laboratory, the Department
for National Drug Control, and the Bermuda Industrial Union. The initial phase of implementing this policy, including policy -specific Q&A sessions and integration
with HR systems and training rollout planned by DEO D
is now underway.
Regular monthly safety communications were
also sent to health and safety committees across all departments. Furthermore, Mr. Chairman, over a dozen
workplace and building inspections and hazard reviews
were completed across multiple ministries. Critical i ssues such as mould, ventilation failures, storm damage, fall hazards, and overcrowding risks in administrative buildings were addressed.
Mr. Chairman, the Occupational Safety and
Health [OSH] Officer also reviewed contractor safety
practices and risk control protocols during live electrical works, ensuring adherence to the highest standards.
These efforts directly contributed to an increase in compliance and training, with OSH training delivered to
multiple departments covering topics like introduction
Bermuda Senate to OSH, workplace accident investigations, and health
and safety committee duties.
Guidance materials and safety orientation
slides were also prepared for onboarding, and targeted
support was provided to departments seeking assis-tance with health and safety engagement and compliance.
Looking ahead to fiscal year 2025/26, Mr.
Chairman, the Government plans to execute a comprehensive, government -wide workplace safety audit
across all ministries, excluding the uniformed services
and the judiciary. Additionally, a centralised risk registry
will be developed to track performance and regulatory
compliance and expand the training curriculum to include crucial topics such as chemical safety and hazard
communication, workplace violence and harassment
prevention, and fire safety and emergency evacuation.
Mr. Chairman, another aim is to launch an internal health and safety hub, which will feature a digital
incident reporting platform to streamline safety alerts
and corrective actions, and relaunch ministry -level
health and safety committees with refreshed t erms of
reference and accountability frameworks, a further testament to this Government's commitment to a safe and
healthy public service.
Business Unit 19035, London Office
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Mr. Chairman, the London Office
continues to drive forward Bermuda's relationship with the United Kingdom through highest -level dialogue with
the UK Government and by continued engagement
with departments of His Majesty's Government across
Whitehall.
The Office continues to work in cohesion with
governments of the Overseas Territories on shared pol-icy areas and engaging collectively with both Houses of the UK Parliament, the Diplomatic Corps, such as embassies and high commissions, the United Kingdom
Overseas Territories Association, the Commonwealth
Secretariat, along with all UK -based Commonwealth
associations, the general UK public to include the private sector, civil societies and those who have a general or vested interest in Bermuda, such as the B ermuda Society, and importantly, Bermudians living in
the UK, including our students.
Mr. Chairman, the London Office continues to
provide the necessary immediate assistance and guid-ance throughout its consular function to Bermudians
living and studying in the UK, throughout Europe and, on occasion, Bermudians in other parts of the world.
Mr. Chairman, the London Office has created
a reassignment position of a Deputy UK Representa-tive to facilitate a greater focus on delivering investment
opportunities by working with the relevant UK Government departments and other key stakeholders in the UK as part of the Government's economic diplomacy
objective. The intention is to make this position permanent, and it will allow greater focus for the increased amount and complexity of counsellor cases. The London Office will continue to offer placement opportunities
for internships as well as summer students through
partnership with the Department of Workforce Development.
Business Unit 19 040, Ministry Administration
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Mr. Chairman, business unit
19040, designated as Ministry Administration, serves
as the central operational hub for the Ministry of the Cabinet Office and Digital Innovation. This unit is fundamental to the Ministry's efficient functioning, providing vital infrastructure and support. It s core responsibilities include directly supporting the Minister for the Cab-inet Office and Digital Innovation and coordinating all
departments and units under the Ministry's purview.
Mr. Chairman, the key departments and functions falling within its strategic and operational oversight are the Post Office, Libraries and Archives, Planning, Information and Digital Technologies, Communication, Employee and Organisational Development and
Project Management and Procurement. This centralised coordination ensures seamless communication, aligned strategic direction and integrated efforts across
this diverse portfolio, ultimately contributing to a unified
and responsive government administration and the effective delivery of public service.
Business Unit 19 045, Washington, DC Office
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Mr. Chairman, the Washington,
DC Office is mandated to cultivate essential relationships with both business and government stakeholders, championing Bermuda's financial services and engaging in constructive dialogue with US political
thought leaders to safeguard the Island's economic interests.
Mr. Chairman, for the fiscal term 2024/25, the
DC Office successfully met all its key objectives. These
included actively engaging with vital contacts to inform
US thought leaders about Bermuda's pivotal role as an
international financial services centre and a premier
tourist destination. The O ffice also executed associated
business development functions and provided crucial
advice on emerging US policies and legislative
measures that could impact Bermuda.
Furthermore, it advised on and managed direct
engagements by the Premier and Ministers with their
DC contacts while also identifying opportunities to promote Bermuda's environmental initiatives. As a direct
result of these efforts, the O ffice was able to strengthen
bipartisan relationships with US lawmakers to safe-guard Bermuda's interests and maintain strategic visibility. It provided valuable guidance on navigating shifts
within the US administration and diligently monitored
and advised on emerging US pol icies impacting Bermuda, including those related to taxation, digital assets,
financial services, and trade.
336 5 June 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda Senate The Office successfully facilitated high -level
engagements for the Premier and Ministers to Washington, DC and Wyoming, coordinating meetings with
members of Congress, federal agencies, and business
leaders. It also actively promoted Bermuda's financial service s, digital assets, and insurance and reinsurance
sectors with targeted efforts to attract family offices and
individuals of high net worth.
Additionally, the office highlighted Bermuda as
a premier destination for tourism and business through
dedicated industry engagement and spoke at leading US FinTech conferences to showcase Bermuda's regulatory leadership and innovation- friendly digital ass et
framework.
Lastly, the O ffice effectively advocated against
US measures that could disrupt the Island's shipping
and trade flows. For the same fiscal term, the DC Office partially met its key performance measures, demonstrating considerable progress. Regarding the objective
of en gaging with US organisations in the digital asset
and FinTech industry to host at least one conference in
Bermuda, the office held engaging discussions with
several digital asset conference organisers and assisted partners in Bermuda in facili tating a digital asset
conference now scheduled for May 2025.
Concerning the goal of securing three business
leads resulting in meaningful engagement or progression in domiciling companies in Bermuda, the Office successfully drew the interest of four companies to
begin the necessary actions to explore domiciling in
Bermuda. Finally, for creating and maintaining an upto-date database of Bermudian college students residing in the US, the O ffice, in conjunction with relevant
ministries, developed a framework for a Bermuda Col-lege database with implementation sought for the upcoming fiscal term.
Looking ahead to the 2025/26 fiscal year, the
planned objectives of the DC Office are concentrated
in three key areas, US political and government en-gagement, business development, and the image and
actions of the DC Office. The specific performance
measures set for 2025/26 include engaging with US organisers in the digital asset and Fi nTech industry or in
family offices that result in having at least one conference or event hosted in Bermuda. They also aim to secure three business leads resulting in meaningful engagement or progression in domiciling companies in
Bermuda. Finally, the Office intends to finalise, implement, and maintain an up- to-date database of Bermudian college students residing in the United States.
Business Unit 19075, Brussels Office
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Mr. Chairman, the mandate of
the Brussels Office continues to be the maintenance of relationships with key stakeholders and decision mak-ers in Brussels while establishing and maintaining connections. The objectives of the Brussels Office for fiscal
term 2024/25 remain as maintaining close dialogue
with the European Commission, Council, and European Parliament and other EU institutions, facilitating
access of the Premier and Ministers to key persons in upholding the Government's presence in Europe, and
working in cohesion with the Ministry of Finance and
the Bermuda Monetary Authority to support Bermuda's
global position as a robust regulatory financial regime
with a primary function to ensure continuous dialogue
with the European Council.
Business Unit 19 080, Office of the Head
of the Public Service
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Mr. Chairman, the Office of the
Head of the Public Service holds direct responsibility
for all internal operations within the public service. Its
primary objective is to transform and modernise the
service with a substantial focus on training and development, customer service, and maintaining standards
of excellence.
This office's comprehensive mandate covers
the full spectrum of public service management. This
unit spearheads government -wide reform initiatives
such as the Public Service Strategic Plan 2024 –2027.
It ensures that all ministries and departments adhere to
the core values of being customer -centric, future- focused, and committed to promoting prosperity. Upholding the highest standards of public service is central to
its mission.
Mr. Chairman, a pivotal area of concentration
is attracting, developing, and retaining top talent within the public service. Over the past year, significant progress has been made in advancing the Reimagining
Careers in the Public Service initiative. This initiative
addresses recruitment, retention, succession planning,
and training needs.
The launch of a Public Service Career Guide
accompanied efforts by public officers acting as ambassadors to promote careers in the service, raising
awareness about the Career Guide, and generating interest in various training programmes designed to attract trainees and apprentices to both technical and
professional roles such as marine pilots, maritime controllers, engineers, and a variety of industrial positions,
including plumbers and electricians. These initiatives
are further bolstered through formal learning agreements with signature schools and active participation in school career days and assemblies.
For current public officers, considerable emphasis has been placed on developing capacity at the
executive leadership and mid- management levels.
Over 20 public officers involved in the Leadership Development Programme have benefited from exposure
to execut ive coaching and advanced policy development protocols via participation in the UAE Executive Leadership Programme, which included both remote
and in- person learning components.
Bermuda Senate At the supervisory level, a tailored supervisory
training programme was created and launched specifically for industrial employees to ensure they possess
the necessary skills and knowledge to grow professionally and transition smoothly into supervisory rol es.
Mr. Chairman, the dynamic interactions between the public service as an employer and its union
partners have been strengthened through collaborative
engagement and joint training on interest -based bargaining techniques. This initiative included all union partners and successfully commenced the negotiation
season.
Joint negotiations resulted in a framework
agreement for salary increases over a four -year period
across all unions, followed by individual negotiations
with each union to address non- financial clauses of our
seven collective bargaining agreements, which i s the
current phase in progress.
While the standard cost -of-living increase has
been awarded to ensure that government employees
maintain purchasing power, which has been eroded over the years owing to austerity measures and salary
freezes, the work with PwC on the modernisation of the
Government Job Evaluation Initiative concluded with
the delivery of an assessment on salary competitiveness when compared with market value based on similar positions in the private sector and in other jurisdictions, as well as the delivery of a new job eval uation
tool. A job evaluation assesses a job's duties, responsibilities, required skills, and overall contribution to the
delivery of public services. It helps to establish fair and equitable pay scales for the various roles.
Implementation planning to transition to the
new job evaluation tool based on the PwC proposed competency -based model is now in progress. It is expected that the new tool and the new grading model will provide opportunities to address issues related to re-cruiting into hard- to-fill roles and the retention of top talent.
Mr. Chairman, increased efficiencies have
been realised via operational changes to support re-cruitment. Managers have been trained to conduct their
own recruitment efforts, as opposed to being completely reliant on the limited resources at the Depart-ment o f Employee and Organisational Development.
Further, steps have been taken to implement a more
streamlined recruitment process, which is complemented by planned amendments to the Public Service
Commission Regulations. Our commitment to enhancing the operati onal efficiency and effectiveness of the
public service, ensuring it meets the evolving demands
and expectations of both the workforce and the public.
Mr. Chairman, it is understood that effective
communication is essential for good customer service. Therefore, the government website features a customer feedback form, now complemented by QR -
coded posters providing access to the customer feedback form that are actively being placed in customer
service areas. Responses to queries, complaints, and compliments are managed in accordance with specific
service standards.
Data is analysed to identify problem areas requiring added resources and/or corrective action to mitigate service issues and to ensure high quality and timely customer responses. While we are working toward meeting our response goals, plans include increas ed training in this area.
Mr. Chairman, the initiatives outlined demonstrate our unwavering commitment to fostering a modern, efficient, and responsive public service. By invest-ing in our people, streamlining operations, and prioritising citizen engagement, we are building a public service that is well- equipped to meet the evolving needs of
our country.
Business Unit 19 085, PATI/PIPA Unit
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Mr. Chairman, next I will address
business unit 190 85, the PATI/PIPA Unit, where there
was continued achievement of the established
measures and its expenditures remain largely identical
to last year's figures at $862,000. The PATI/PIPA Unit
is responsible for both the Public Access to Information
Act 2010 and the Personal Information Protection Act
2016.
Mr. Chairman, for PATI, the unit continues to
maintain and enhance the PATI Administrative Code of
Practice, deliver targeted guidance to public authorities, and provide comprehensive information officer
training. During 2024/25, the unit coordinated the u pdate of the legislation and regulations and implemented significant updates to administrative procedures.
For PIPA, the unit continued to develop the
government's privacy programme. This included delivering training, establishing documentation and templates, and advancing our international privacy recognition strategy. A key focus was coordinating readiness
activities ahead of PIPA coming into force on 1 January
2025. Additionally, legislative activities supported the
transition of personal information requests from PATI to
PIPA and the harmonisation of the Electronic Transaction Act (ETA) with PIPA.
Mr. Chairman, as this Honourable [Senate] is
aware, the G overnment's operations require interaction
with the public and international partners, involving information exchange through both traditional and digital
channels. This reality underscores the importance of
embedding information rights and privacy principles throughout our operations.
Mr. Chairman, as we continue to manage and
refine the PATI framework, we envision a future where
access to information facilitates greater civic participation, supports evidence- based policy development, and
contributes to Bermuda's standing as a modern, w ellgoverned jurisdiction. The journey toward fully -realised
information access requires sustained effort from all stakeholders, public authorities working towards proactive disclosure and improved disclosure practices,
338 5 June 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda Senate residents engaging thoughtfully with the information,
and the PATI/PIPA Unit providing guidance to navigate
complex information ecosystems.
While challenges remain in balancing transparency with other important considerations, such as pri-vacy and security, the pursuit of these principles offer
potential benefits for Government effectiveness, civic
engagement, and jurisdictional reputation that extend
well beyond mere regulatory compliance.
Mr. Chairman, like the evolution of PATI, the
Government also promotes the premise that privacy
protection is not a destination, but rather a continuing
journey that requires ongoing attention and adaptation.
As processes change, technology evolves, and new
privacy challenges emerge. The Government's privacy
programme will continue to mature and develop. This
evolutionary approach benefits both individuals and the Government. Through consistent application of privacy
principles and regular programme assessment, the
Government strengthens its ability to deliver services
effectively while protecting the fundamental right to pri-vacy.
Mr. Chairman, the Government's PIPA experiences may be seen as similar to other organisations across Bermuda as they operationalise privacy protec-tion while honouring individuals' privacy rights. The
foundational privacy principles that underlie PIPA are
as follows :
• Lawfulness, fairness, and transparency in the
handling of personal information.
• Purpose limitation to ensure information is only used for specified purposes.
• Proportionality or minimisation to ensure collection and use is adequate but not excessive.
• Accuracy and integrity of personal information.
Appropriate retention periods.
• Security safeguards against risks.
• Controls on transfers of personal information.
• Accountability of organisations for compliance.
These principles work together to protect individual privacy rights while enabling the effective and legitimate use of personal information within organisations.
Mr. Chairman, looking ahead to 2025/26, the
unit's priority activities will encompass refinement of
their organisational structure to optimise service delivery, implementation of necessary legislative updates and compliance measures, development of strategic
and operational frameworks to support PATI and PIPA
requirements, continued enhancement of guidance materials and templates, ongoing support to public authorities in meeting their statutory obligations, strengthening relationships with regulatory author ities, expansion of training and awareness initiatives, and enabling
recognition of comparable jurisdictions.
Mr. Chairman, with PIPA now fully operational
as of January 1, 2025, its impact extends across the
entire jurisdiction. While the Privacy Commissioner provides overarching guidance, the unit works in collaboration with the regulator to enable international
equivalence pursuits, elements that reach across the public and private sectors, and identification of certification mechanisms that might be used to demonstrate
compliance.
Mr. Chairman, in today's interconnected digital
economy, Bermuda's ability to participate in interna-tional data flows is not merely advantageous, it is essential for our jurisdiction's continued prosperity. Our
businesses and government operations increasi ngly
rely on cloud services and international data processing capabilities to deliver efficient, cost -effective
services to our community. The PATI/PIPA Unit plays
a crucial role in enabling these operations by working
to establish privacy equivalency arrangements with key
international partners. Our efforts towards privacy and
data protection equivalence recognition, participation in certification programmes, and engagement with various jurisdictions demonstrate our commitment to meeting international standards. These initiatives are particularly vital as our jurisdiction navigates the complex requirements for international data transfers under PIPA
section 15.
The Office of the Privacy Commissioner has
communicated guidance to help organisations assess
and document transfer impacts, implement appropriate
safeguards and maintain compliance while leveraging modern technologies. This balanced approach ensures
that Bermuda can benefit from global technological advances while maintaining appropriate protection for
personal information regardless of where it is processed.
Mr. Chairman, effective records management
forms the foundation of meaningful public access to in-formation. During 2024/25, the Unit undertook significant work to develop the PATI Records Management
Code of Practice, which will provide comprehensive
guidance on how public authorities should create,
maintain, and preserve official records. This code is essential for ensuring that public records remain accessible, authentic, and reliable throughout their life cycle.
Mr. Chairman, the Code looks to address challenges in digital record- keeping, including requirements
for managing information across cloud platforms and
collaborative systems. We have worked closely with the Archives, and the Code provides detailed guidanc e
on managing hybrid paper and digital environments,
ensuring consistent handling of records regardless of
format. These improvements directly support public au-thorities in meeting their statutory obligations while promoting greater transparency and accountability in government operations. The effectiveness of PATI fundamentally depends on the government’s ability to
properly manage government records, and this Code of
Practice provides the robust framework needed to support that goal.
Mr. Chairman, the PATI and PIPA legislations
require far more than mere regulatory compliance.
Bermuda Senate These frameworks are fundamental pillars supporting
Bermuda's position in the modern global economy.
PATI demonstrates our commitment to transparent and accountable governance. PIPA, in turn, establishes Bermuda as a jurisdiction that upholds inter-national standards for personal information protection,
a critical factor as data flows become increasingly c entral to worldwide commerce.
Mr. Chairman, the unit remains committed to
supporting Bermuda's position as a trusted jurisdiction
for information handling while ensuring effective protec-tion of privacy rights. This work directly contributes to
both our economic interests and the protec tion of individual rights.
Business Unit 19090, Digital Transformation
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Mr. Chairman, created in 2024,
the Digital Transformation Team (DTT) is responsible
for modernising how public services are designed, delivered and accessed in Bermuda. Its core mandate is to streamline Government operations through digitisation, with a focus on improving service delivery and enhancing the citizen experience and increasing operational efficiency.
The team leads the development of digital
forms and low -code applications, supports departments in transitioning from manual to digital processes, and drives the adoption of user -centric platforms such
as the One- Stop Shop. DTT also plays a key role in
piloting artificial intelligence tools, such as chatbots and
automated workflows, to ensure responsiveness and to
reduce administrative burdens.
Working closely with client ministries and departments, the Department of Information and Digital
Technologies, and other stakeholders, DTT ensures that digital initiatives are aligned with strategic priorities and delivered in a secure, coordinated, and s calable
way.
Since its formation in the previous fiscal year,
Mr. Chairman, the team has made significant progress in digital service delivery. Key accomplishments include developing and launching over 30 digital forms
and applications to streamline service delivery ac ross
a wide range of public -facing and internal government
functions. These include critical services such as Public
Service Vehicle Licence and Accident Reporting at
TCD, the Asthma Action Plan, and Financial Assistance Short -Term Relief. The team also bu ilt tools to
support public engagement and transparency, such as
the Dog Licence Lookup, Bermuda National Hero Nomination Form, and the Annual Occupational Safety Report. Internal Government processes were also digitised, including the new Cabinet Memo Sys tem, Privacy
Registration Booking, and Feedback Form Enhance-ments. These forms collectively support operational im-provements while also laying the groundwork for integrated, paperless public service delivery. Launching the One- Stop Shop, which is a centralised portal, offering citizens seamless access to
Government services via forms.gov.bm.
Development of the Social Insurance Site, a
digitised suite of forms, including a real -time lookup tool
for social insurance numbers, modernising access to
critical benefits, and of course, reducing calls to the department.
Rollout of the Government Payment Portal,
which enables secure online payments for Government
services. This includes the parking tickets application, which allows the public to pay fines online. Ongoing development of the ShoreLink chatbot, an AI -driven t ool
designed to support digital customer service and provide automated responses to common queries. Continued work on digital literacy and public service upskilling, ensuring that Government employees are bet-ter equipped to use and manage digital tools.
Mr. Chairman, with the funding grants for fiscal
year 2025/26, the Digital Transformation Team will fo-cus on
• expanding the One- Stop Shop, adding new
services and integrating a single sign- on solution to improve user experience;
• deploying the Unified Payment Platform, which
is consolidating fragmented payment methods
into one secure integrated system that con-nects with the E1 financial system;
• launching AI -driven [service] automation pilots
and chatbot functionality to enhance customer service responsiveness;
• further digitising forms and services with the
goal of reducing manual processes and improving turnaround time for both internal and public facing requests; and
• engaging a strategic partner within available
budget constraints to support highly technical
work, particularly for secure infrastructure development, payment platform integration and
advanced AI implementations.
The strategic partner will provide specialised
expertise to complement internal capabilities and accelerate delivery of complex initiatives. The team will
continue to work in close collaboration with client de-partments, IDT, and external partners to ensure that
digital investments produce lasting value for the public
and the government.
Mr. Chairman, this concludes my presentation
on the budgets for the Cabinet Office, Head 9.
The Chairman Chairman
Thank you, Junior Minister. Please proceed with the next head. Sen. Mischa Fubler: Thank you. I'm just going to take a break for some water here. Next up is Head 32. 340 5 June 2025 Official Hansard Report Bermuda Senate HEAD 32 —DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING Sen. Mischa Fubler: Mr. Chairman, …
Thank you, Junior Minister.
Please proceed with the next head.
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Thank you. I'm just going to take
a break for some water here.
Next up is Head 32.
340 5 June 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda Senate HEAD 32 —DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Mr. Chairman, it gives me great
pleasure to present the budget for Head 32, the Depart-ment of Planning, found on pages B -57 through B -61 of
the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure.
The department's mission is straightforward
and significant, To ensure the sustainable manage-ment of Bermuda's natural and built environment .
Budget Overview
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Mr. Chairman, turning to page B -
58, for the fiscal year 2025/26, the department has
been allocated $4.049 million, an increase of $211,000,
driven mainly by Government -wide salary increases.
Revenue Outlook
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Mr. Chairman, turning to page B -
59, the department expects to generate $1.936 million
in revenue, a 14 per cent increase over last year. This
growth is driven by robust development activity across
the residential, tourism, and commercial sectors.
Residential, tourism, and office development
continues to be healthy, particularly within the high- end
sector as evidenced by numerous applications for new
residences, new blocks providing additional tourist units at Grotto Bay, and the Brookfield development on
Front Street in the City of Hamilton.
Mr. Chairman, revenue changes include
• planning application fees which are down $99,000 to $550,000, reflecting caution in
some segments;
• building permit fees are up $110,000 to
$710,000 tied to sustained demand;
• planning searches are up $84,000 to $234,000
driven by strong real estate market; and
• elevator licences are up $150,000 to $350,000, which is a 75 per cent jump linked to high compliance and inspection demand.
Subjective Analysis
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Mr. Chairman, subjective analysis of current account estimates of the department is
found on page B -58. Salaries increased by $96,000,
which is 3 per cent, to $3.447 million. Rentals increased by $43,000, or 16 per cent, to $318,000 due to
the office move to 44 Church Street. Repairs and
maintenance increased by $69,000, or 51 per cent, to
$205,000 mostly for software and systems related to the new offices.
Staffing and Recruitment
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Mr. Chairman, staffing challenges have impacted service delivery. Retirements
and vacancies, including in enforcement and inspections, left several units under -resourced. However, the department has responded decisively. They have recruited a new administrative officer, electrical
inspector, enforcement officer, management accountant, and manager of administration during the last fiscal
year, all of whom are Bermudian. [The department] promoted internally to fill senior roles [and] was s uccessful
in its nomination of a Bermudian student who received
a bursary award in the last fiscal year targeted to the
post of assistant planner to whom the department has provided and will continue to provide work experience to aid in his development.
[The department also] supports the youth employment programme of the Department of Workforce Development. The department will be providing work
experience to a further three young Bermudians during
this summer. In addition, the Department of Planning has f eatured at numerous school career days to promote planning as a profession to students and maintains just four work permit holders.
Performance Measures by Business Unit
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Mr. Chairman, the department
has faced public frustration, particularly around delays
in permits and application processing. These concerns
are real and are not being ignored. In the coming weeks, I will be announcing initiatives either in train or
under consideration to address the frustrations faced
by both the Department of Planning and the public they
serve.
Business Unit 42050, Enforcement
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Business unit 42050, Enforcement, page B -60. This business unit is responsible for
investigating claims of breaches of planning control, seeking remedies for unauthorised development and
carrying out planning searches. [In the past fiscal year]
• they processed 353 planning searches, an increase of 79, which is a 29 per cent increase;
• issued 11 civil penalties totalling $275,000;
• eighty per cent of enforcement complaints were responded to within two weeks below the
100 per cent target. The department has adjusted its goal to 90 per cent for the upcoming
fiscal year; and
• twenty -nine enforcement cases were opened
last year.
Performance was impacted by staffing shortages, including a retirement and temporary reassign-ment. But with a new officer hired and the team now fully staffed, improvement is expected in 2025/26.
Business Unit 42050, Forward Planning
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Business unit 42060, Forward
Planning, page B -60.
Bermuda Senate This business unit is responsible for the preparation of development plans and associated policies
and guidance, including collating evidence through
technical studies and surveys. For the fiscal year
2024/25, the department can report the following: The City of Hamilton Plan 2024, completed with no objections, a milestone achievement. As debated in these
Chambers a week ago (in another place), the plan
marks a shift from rigid controls to principle- based planning, encouraging investment and design flexibil ity.
Business Unit 42070, Development Management
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Business unit 42070, Development Management, page B -61.
This business unit is responsible for processing, planning and subdivision applications in accordance with the provisions of the relevant development plan and providing pre -consultation advice on development proposals. Highlights for 2024/25 are as follows:
• Processed 362 planning applications, nearly
identical to the previous year.
• [Of these,] 61 per cent were completed within
12 weeks, below the 80 per cent target.
• Staffing shortages and increased workloads contributed to this issue, but targeted recruitment and reassignments are addressing the
problem.
Most planning applications continue to be for
residential development with a noticeable trend towards applications for creating additional dwelling units
through internal conversions and the installation of solar panels.
Notable projects include the Grotto Bay Development, the North Arm in Dockyard, the replacement of the Belvedere Building on Pitts Bay Road and the pro-posed 94 key hotel at 11 Victoria Street, which was
granted on appeal.
Significant pre -consultations for tourism development has been conducted at the St. Regis Bermuda
Resort and regarding the redevelopment of the Elbow
Beach Hotel.
Business Unit 42080, Building Permits
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Business unit 42080, Building
Permits, found on page B -61.
This business unit is responsible for reviewing
applications for building permits to ensure compliance
with the building code, guaranteeing safe construction
and protecting public welfare and well -being. For the
fiscal year 2024/25, the department can report the following:
• They received 799 building permit applications
and 456 permit revision applications.
• They issued 551 building permits and 368 permit revisions. • These permits represented 21 per cent commercial, 24 per cent residential and 55 per cent
minor works.
Notable projects that received building permits
include:
• Southampton Princess Beach Club, a multi -
story mixed- use development on Pitts Bay
Road;
• the Brookfield Building; and
• further tourism development at Nautilus/ Azura
and Grotto Bay.
Business Unit 42090, Inspections
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Business unit 42090, Inspections, page B -61. This business unit is responsible for
ensuring standards of construction in accordance with
approved building permits and the relevant provisions of the building code.
For the fiscal year 2024/25, the department
can report the following.
• They conducted over 6,395 inspections, including 504 elevators, 1,708 electrical and 4,183 building related.
• 664 commencement inspections indicate
strong project starts.
Plans for the Year Ahead
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Mr. Chairman, the department
has a full slate of reforms and initiatives, including:
• New general development orders to reduce red
tape and allow some changes of use without
planning approval.
• Updated building code to raise construction
standards and sustainability.
• Streamlining processes via better internal systems and more engagement with industry
stakeholders.
• Launch of a digital platform to match underutilised land with prospective farmers, promoting
local food production and land use efficiency.
• Vacant and derelict property database to encourage private investment in idle housing stock.
• Review of the listed building register to ensure
that it is transparent, current, and fair.
• Policy research programmes underway focussing on housing, tourism, industrial land, and
vacancy rates, forming the evidence base for
the new Island- wide development plan.
Mr. Chairman, the Department of Planning is
taking action. We are recruiting, reforming, digitising,
and collaborating. This year's budget supports that
work and it supports our broader goal, a planning sys-tem that is efficient, effective, and responsive t o both
the needs of developers and the rights of our residents. To the director, Victoria Cordeiro, and her team, thank
342 5 June 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda Senate you for navigating the complexity with care and commitment. I look forward to sharing the progress that lies
ahead. This concludes my comments on Head 32, Department of Planning, and I'll now proceed to Head 43,
Information and Digital Technology.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Please proceed with the next head.
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Thank you. I'm just going to take
a break for some water here.
Next up is Head 32.
340 5 June 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda Senate HEAD 32 —DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Mr. Chairman, it gives me great
pleasure to present the budget for Head 32, the Depart-ment of Planning, found on pages B -57 through B -61 of
the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure.
The department's mission is straightforward
and significant, To ensure the sustainable manage-ment of Bermuda's natural and built environment .
Budget Overview
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Mr. Chairman, turning to page B -
58, for the fiscal year 2025/26, the department has
been allocated $4.049 million, an increase of $211,000,
driven mainly by Government -wide salary increases.
Revenue Outlook
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Mr. Chairman, turning to page B -
59, the department expects to generate $1.936 million
in revenue, a 14 per cent increase over last year. This
growth is driven by robust development activity across
the residential, tourism, and commercial sectors.
Residential, tourism, and office development
continues to be healthy, particularly within the high- end
sector as evidenced by numerous applications for new
residences, new blocks providing additional tourist units at Grotto Bay, and the Brookfield development on
Front Street in the City of Hamilton.
Mr. Chairman, revenue changes include
• planning application fees which are down $99,000 to $550,000, reflecting caution in
some segments;
• building permit fees are up $110,000 to
$710,000 tied to sustained demand;
• planning searches are up $84,000 to $234,000
driven by strong real estate market; and
• elevator licences are up $150,000 to $350,000, which is a 75 per cent jump linked to high compliance and inspection demand.
Subjective Analysis
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Mr. Chairman, subjective analysis of current account estimates of the department is
found on page B -58. Salaries increased by $96,000,
which is 3 per cent, to $3.447 million. Rentals increased by $43,000, or 16 per cent, to $318,000 due to
the office move to 44 Church Street. Repairs and
maintenance increased by $69,000, or 51 per cent, to
$205,000 mostly for software and systems related to the new offices.
Staffing and Recruitment
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Mr. Chairman, staffing challenges have impacted service delivery. Retirements
and vacancies, including in enforcement and inspections, left several units under -resourced. However, the department has responded decisively. They have recruited a new administrative officer, electrical
inspector, enforcement officer, management accountant, and manager of administration during the last fiscal
year, all of whom are Bermudian. [The department] promoted internally to fill senior roles [and] was s uccessful
in its nomination of a Bermudian student who received
a bursary award in the last fiscal year targeted to the
post of assistant planner to whom the department has provided and will continue to provide work experience to aid in his development.
[The department also] supports the youth employment programme of the Department of Workforce Development. The department will be providing work
experience to a further three young Bermudians during
this summer. In addition, the Department of Planning has f eatured at numerous school career days to promote planning as a profession to students and maintains just four work permit holders.
Performance Measures by Business Unit
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Mr. Chairman, the department
has faced public frustration, particularly around delays
in permits and application processing. These concerns
are real and are not being ignored. In the coming weeks, I will be announcing initiatives either in train or
under consideration to address the frustrations faced
by both the Department of Planning and the public they
serve.
Business Unit 42050, Enforcement
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Business unit 42050, Enforcement, page B -60. This business unit is responsible for
investigating claims of breaches of planning control, seeking remedies for unauthorised development and
carrying out planning searches. [In the past fiscal year]
• they processed 353 planning searches, an increase of 79, which is a 29 per cent increase;
• issued 11 civil penalties totalling $275,000;
• eighty per cent of enforcement complaints were responded to within two weeks below the
100 per cent target. The department has adjusted its goal to 90 per cent for the upcoming
fiscal year; and
• twenty -nine enforcement cases were opened
last year.
Performance was impacted by staffing shortages, including a retirement and temporary reassign-ment. But with a new officer hired and the team now fully staffed, improvement is expected in 2025/26.
Business Unit 42050, Forward Planning
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Business unit 42060, Forward
Planning, page B -60.
Bermuda Senate This business unit is responsible for the preparation of development plans and associated policies
and guidance, including collating evidence through
technical studies and surveys. For the fiscal year
2024/25, the department can report the following: The City of Hamilton Plan 2024, completed with no objections, a milestone achievement. As debated in these
Chambers a week ago (in another place), the plan
marks a shift from rigid controls to principle- based planning, encouraging investment and design flexibil ity.
Business Unit 42070, Development Management
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Business unit 42070, Development Management, page B -61.
This business unit is responsible for processing, planning and subdivision applications in accordance with the provisions of the relevant development plan and providing pre -consultation advice on development proposals. Highlights for 2024/25 are as follows:
• Processed 362 planning applications, nearly
identical to the previous year.
• [Of these,] 61 per cent were completed within
12 weeks, below the 80 per cent target.
• Staffing shortages and increased workloads contributed to this issue, but targeted recruitment and reassignments are addressing the
problem.
Most planning applications continue to be for
residential development with a noticeable trend towards applications for creating additional dwelling units
through internal conversions and the installation of solar panels.
Notable projects include the Grotto Bay Development, the North Arm in Dockyard, the replacement of the Belvedere Building on Pitts Bay Road and the pro-posed 94 key hotel at 11 Victoria Street, which was
granted on appeal.
Significant pre -consultations for tourism development has been conducted at the St. Regis Bermuda
Resort and regarding the redevelopment of the Elbow
Beach Hotel.
Business Unit 42080, Building Permits
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Business unit 42080, Building
Permits, found on page B -61.
This business unit is responsible for reviewing
applications for building permits to ensure compliance
with the building code, guaranteeing safe construction
and protecting public welfare and well -being. For the
fiscal year 2024/25, the department can report the following:
• They received 799 building permit applications
and 456 permit revision applications.
• They issued 551 building permits and 368 permit revisions. • These permits represented 21 per cent commercial, 24 per cent residential and 55 per cent
minor works.
Notable projects that received building permits
include:
• Southampton Princess Beach Club, a multi -
story mixed- use development on Pitts Bay
Road;
• the Brookfield Building; and
• further tourism development at Nautilus/ Azura
and Grotto Bay.
Business Unit 42090, Inspections
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Business unit 42090, Inspections, page B -61. This business unit is responsible for
ensuring standards of construction in accordance with
approved building permits and the relevant provisions of the building code.
For the fiscal year 2024/25, the department
can report the following.
• They conducted over 6,395 inspections, including 504 elevators, 1,708 electrical and 4,183 building related.
• 664 commencement inspections indicate
strong project starts.
Plans for the Year Ahead
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Mr. Chairman, the department
has a full slate of reforms and initiatives, including:
• New general development orders to reduce red
tape and allow some changes of use without
planning approval.
• Updated building code to raise construction
standards and sustainability.
• Streamlining processes via better internal systems and more engagement with industry
stakeholders.
• Launch of a digital platform to match underutilised land with prospective farmers, promoting
local food production and land use efficiency.
• Vacant and derelict property database to encourage private investment in idle housing stock.
• Review of the listed building register to ensure
that it is transparent, current, and fair.
• Policy research programmes underway focussing on housing, tourism, industrial land, and
vacancy rates, forming the evidence base for
the new Island- wide development plan.
Mr. Chairman, the Department of Planning is
taking action. We are recruiting, reforming, digitising,
and collaborating. This year's budget supports that
work and it supports our broader goal, a planning sys-tem that is efficient, effective, and responsive t o both
the needs of developers and the rights of our residents. To the director, Victoria Cordeiro, and her team, thank
342 5 June 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda Senate you for navigating the complexity with care and commitment. I look forward to sharing the progress that lies
ahead. This concludes my comments on Head 32, Department of Planning, and I'll now proceed to Head 43,
Information and Digital Technology.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
The Chairman Chairman
Thank you, Junior Minister. Please proceed when you're ready for Head 43. Sen. Mischa Fubler: Thanks. I hope my single colleague across the aisle is ready for the final Head 43. [Inaudible interjection] Sen. Mischa Fubler: Thanks. All right. That's good to hear. HEAD 43 —DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION AND DIGITAL …
Thank you, Junior Minister. Please
proceed when you're ready for Head 43.
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Thanks. I hope my single colleague across the aisle is ready for the final Head 43.
[Inaudible interjection]
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Thanks. All right. That's good to
hear.
HEAD 43 —DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION AND
DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Mr. Chairman, I rise to present
the 2025/26 budget for Head 43, Department of Information and Digital Technologies (IDT) as outlined on
pages B -62 through B -65 of the Budget Book.
IDT functions as the central nervous system of
the government, enabling everything from front line public services to internal operations. The public rightly expects these systems to be reliable, secure, and resilient at all times. In today's rapidly evolv ing digital landscape, meeting these expectations requires more than
maintenance. It demands strategic investment, modern
infrastructure, and forward- thinking leadership. This
budget reflects that commitment, a deliberate shift towards stronger protection, smarter systems, and a government built for the future.
Budget Summary
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Mr. Chairman, the Department of
Information and Digital Technologies has been allo-cated a total operating budget of $9.211 million for the
2025/26 fiscal year, as shown on page B -62. This represents an increase of $706,000, or 8 per cent, over the
previous year's budget of $8.505 million.
Mr. Chairman, a subjective analysis of current
account estimates of the Department of Information
and Digital Technologies can be found on page B -63.
While the majority of new investment is reflected in cap-ital expenditures, there are also key changes with in the
department's current account, particularly across three
areas of strategic importance.
Communications, $1.757 million, which is a
16 per cent increase, or $242,000. This increase supports the expansion of the network data lines, ensuring
sufficient bandwidth and infrastructure to meet the de-mands of a growing and digitally dependent Government. Rentals, $842,000, increased by $182,000, or
28 per cent, which reflects the cost of relocating the department to a new premises with updated facilities bet-ter suited to IDT's operational needs.
And salaries, which has been allocated $3.447
million, which is an increase of 3 per cent, or $162,000.
This covers Government -wide salary uplifts and funds
the filling of a critical security analyst position, reinforcing our commitment to cybersecurity and digital service
protection.
Mr. Chairman, the capital allocations for the
Department of Information and Digital Technologies for
2025/26 is $6.525 million, representing a 12 per cent
increase over the previous year. These funds are not
merely an investment in technology; they represent
strategic steps towards a more resilient, efficient and
responsive Government. As part of its ongoing commit-ment to digital transformation and secure service delivery, IDT will continue investing in modernising the network infrastructure and enhancing c ybersecurity capabilities. These strategic initiatives are crucial for ena-bling a resilient, efficient, and data- driven Government.
Mr. Chairman, while some budget lines show
reduced allocations, I want to be clear. These are not
merely cutbacks; they are recalibrations. They reflect
areas where previous investments have delivered, allowing us to redirect resources towards more urgent and transformational priorities.
Key areas of capital investment include:
• Network Upgrades, $2.5 million. Replacing legacy network switches and upgrading infrastructure at Global House, implementing modern
network monitoring tools, firewall enhancements, and unified communication systems,
improving Wi -Fi reliability and connecti vity
across key facilities.
• Cybersecurity and Risk Management,
$930,000. Enhancing endpoint protection and
real-time threat detection, supporting continuous monitoring, software licensing, and third-party penetration testing, strengthening Gov-ernment's overall security posture.
• Government Portals and Digital Accessibility,
$505,000. Improving access to public services
through a more integrated and user -friendly
platform, supporting transparency, engagement, and efficiency.
• E-Government Initiatives, $545,000. Focused
on data centralisation, performance analytics,
and smarter governance, reduced slightly to
reflect consolidation with broader data infrastructure work, disaster recovery and continu-ity.
• The i Series System, $295,000. Following a
major refresh last year, this year's focus shifts
to fine- tuning disaster recovery environments.
• Wintel Systems, $950,000, which is a
$650,000 reduction, supporting secure cloud
Bermuda Senate transitions, identity management and continuity testing, innovation and hardware life cycles.
• Innovation and Hardware Life Cycle Develop-ment Projects, $400,000. Sustaining innovation while streamlining focus on core initiatives.
• Infrastructure Computers, $400,000. Reflects
recent hardware modernisation and more efficient procurement planning, data infrastructure, establishing a centralised government data lake to power business intelligence, support evidence- based policy, and fost er greater
transparency and innovation across the public service.
Mr. Chairman, these investments mark a shift
from reactive maintenance to proactive transformation
that will strengthen our digital foundation, protect public
assets, and enhance service delivery across every corner of Government.
Workforce and Recruitment
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Workforce and Recruitment
found on page B -63.
Mr. Chairman, staffing stands at 50 FTEs (full -
time equivalent employees), up by one. But we have 10
funded vacancies and filling them is essential. To that
end, IDT has been working with the DEOD on recruitment. These include a chief systems engineer for the
Wintel Systems, a security manager, a network engineer, four systems engineers, a security analyst, a support analyst, and an operations analyst. We are addressing recruitment challenges head- on through a
new apprenticeship programme, building a pipeli ne of
young Bermudians, IT professionals, to meet not just IDT's needs, but also Bermuda's digital future.
Output Measures
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Output Measures, pages B -64
and B -65.
Mr. Chairman, I will state up front that not all
service targets were met. The team worked under pressure to manage a post -attack backlog while pushing
forward critical upgrades.
Business Unit 53030, Device Support
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Performances this year, business
unit 53030 Device Support —70 per cent of tickets resolved within targets, below the 90 per cent goal, but
improving.
Business Unit 53035, Network Support
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Business unit 53035, Network
Support, met 75 per cent target rising to 85 per cent this
year.
Business Unit 53040, Service Support Sen. Mischa Fubler: Business unit 53040, Service
Support, held steady at 25 per cent first -call resolution.
Business Unit 53060, Business System Support
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Business unit, 53060 Business
System Support, achieved 70 per cent of the monthly
review meetings; target is now 90 per cent.
Business Unit 53090, Security
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Business unit 53090, Security,
delivered on its 100 per cent goal, a critical win.
Projects in 2024/25
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Mr. Chairman, despite challenges, IDT made real strides. Microsoft 365 was deployed government -wide for more secure collaborative
work. Infrastructure renewal is underway, improving system speed, uptime and resilience.
Network hardware replaced at critical sites, including the airport and Government Administration
Building. Unified communications project completed at
95 per cent. Streamlining systems and lowering costs.
The iSeries refresh is completed, ensuring core financial systems remain stable and secure.
Plans for the Upcoming Year
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Mr. Chairman, IDT's 2025 business plan will focus on three pillars.
1. Strengthening cybersecurity, disaster recovery and incident response. IDT's top priority is protecting government systems, data and users
through a proactive layered cybersecurity approach. Key initiatives include:
a) advanced endpoint protection: state-of-the-art tools to secure all government connected devices ;
b) 24/7 threat monitoring: constant sur-veillance to detect and respond to suspicious activity in real time;
c) vulnerability assessments and penetration testing: regular system reviews
to identify and fix weaknesses before
they are exploited;
d) email threat detection: intelligent solutions to prevent phishing and email -
borne attacks ;
e) cybersecurity awareness training: educating public officers to serve as the
first line of defence; and
f) updated disaster recovery and incident
response plans ensuring business continuity and fast recovery during disruptions .
2. Delivering high performance, scalable and resilient IT infrastructure. To support the
344 5 June 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda Senate government's growth and service expectations, IDT is modernising its core infrastructure
with a focus on speed, stability and long- term
reliability. Planned efforts include:
a) replacing legacy hardware: phasing out outdated systems to reduce failure
risk and increasing performance
b) application consolidation: eliminating
redundant software to streamline processes and lower costs
c) rewiring Global House: a critical upgrade to boost connectivity and improve network stability and prepare for
future needs
3. Supporting data- driven decision- making. IDT is
investing in tools that enable departments to
transform data into insights and actionable out-comes. Key outcomes targeted are:
a) real-time operational insights for faster
and smarter responses
b) identifying trends and opportunities to inform long- term planning, and
c) evidence- based decision across government.
This will be enabled by user-friendly dashboards and clear comprehensive reporting tools to empower every department to measure, manage and improve performance.
Closing thoughts: Mr. Chairman, IDT is not
simply reacting to a crisis. They are using it as a catalyst for transformation. This budget represents a strategic shift away from patchwork fixes and toward a coherent, protected and people- centred digital gover nment. To the Acting Chief Information Officer, Gina
Benjamin, and the IDT team, I thank you. Your resolve
in the face of unprecedented challenges has kept the
government running and allowed us to rebuild stronger.
With this budget, we don’t just recover, we leap forward.
This concludes my comments on Head 43, Information and Digital Technology.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
proceed when you're ready for Head 43.
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Thanks. I hope my single colleague across the aisle is ready for the final Head 43.
[Inaudible interjection]
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Thanks. All right. That's good to
hear.
HEAD 43 —DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION AND
DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Mr. Chairman, I rise to present
the 2025/26 budget for Head 43, Department of Information and Digital Technologies (IDT) as outlined on
pages B -62 through B -65 of the Budget Book.
IDT functions as the central nervous system of
the government, enabling everything from front line public services to internal operations. The public rightly expects these systems to be reliable, secure, and resilient at all times. In today's rapidly evolv ing digital landscape, meeting these expectations requires more than
maintenance. It demands strategic investment, modern
infrastructure, and forward- thinking leadership. This
budget reflects that commitment, a deliberate shift towards stronger protection, smarter systems, and a government built for the future.
Budget Summary
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Mr. Chairman, the Department of
Information and Digital Technologies has been allo-cated a total operating budget of $9.211 million for the
2025/26 fiscal year, as shown on page B -62. This represents an increase of $706,000, or 8 per cent, over the
previous year's budget of $8.505 million.
Mr. Chairman, a subjective analysis of current
account estimates of the Department of Information
and Digital Technologies can be found on page B -63.
While the majority of new investment is reflected in cap-ital expenditures, there are also key changes with in the
department's current account, particularly across three
areas of strategic importance.
Communications, $1.757 million, which is a
16 per cent increase, or $242,000. This increase supports the expansion of the network data lines, ensuring
sufficient bandwidth and infrastructure to meet the de-mands of a growing and digitally dependent Government. Rentals, $842,000, increased by $182,000, or
28 per cent, which reflects the cost of relocating the department to a new premises with updated facilities bet-ter suited to IDT's operational needs.
And salaries, which has been allocated $3.447
million, which is an increase of 3 per cent, or $162,000.
This covers Government -wide salary uplifts and funds
the filling of a critical security analyst position, reinforcing our commitment to cybersecurity and digital service
protection.
Mr. Chairman, the capital allocations for the
Department of Information and Digital Technologies for
2025/26 is $6.525 million, representing a 12 per cent
increase over the previous year. These funds are not
merely an investment in technology; they represent
strategic steps towards a more resilient, efficient and
responsive Government. As part of its ongoing commit-ment to digital transformation and secure service delivery, IDT will continue investing in modernising the network infrastructure and enhancing c ybersecurity capabilities. These strategic initiatives are crucial for ena-bling a resilient, efficient, and data- driven Government.
Mr. Chairman, while some budget lines show
reduced allocations, I want to be clear. These are not
merely cutbacks; they are recalibrations. They reflect
areas where previous investments have delivered, allowing us to redirect resources towards more urgent and transformational priorities.
Key areas of capital investment include:
• Network Upgrades, $2.5 million. Replacing legacy network switches and upgrading infrastructure at Global House, implementing modern
network monitoring tools, firewall enhancements, and unified communication systems,
improving Wi -Fi reliability and connecti vity
across key facilities.
• Cybersecurity and Risk Management,
$930,000. Enhancing endpoint protection and
real-time threat detection, supporting continuous monitoring, software licensing, and third-party penetration testing, strengthening Gov-ernment's overall security posture.
• Government Portals and Digital Accessibility,
$505,000. Improving access to public services
through a more integrated and user -friendly
platform, supporting transparency, engagement, and efficiency.
• E-Government Initiatives, $545,000. Focused
on data centralisation, performance analytics,
and smarter governance, reduced slightly to
reflect consolidation with broader data infrastructure work, disaster recovery and continu-ity.
• The i Series System, $295,000. Following a
major refresh last year, this year's focus shifts
to fine- tuning disaster recovery environments.
• Wintel Systems, $950,000, which is a
$650,000 reduction, supporting secure cloud
Bermuda Senate transitions, identity management and continuity testing, innovation and hardware life cycles.
• Innovation and Hardware Life Cycle Develop-ment Projects, $400,000. Sustaining innovation while streamlining focus on core initiatives.
• Infrastructure Computers, $400,000. Reflects
recent hardware modernisation and more efficient procurement planning, data infrastructure, establishing a centralised government data lake to power business intelligence, support evidence- based policy, and fost er greater
transparency and innovation across the public service.
Mr. Chairman, these investments mark a shift
from reactive maintenance to proactive transformation
that will strengthen our digital foundation, protect public
assets, and enhance service delivery across every corner of Government.
Workforce and Recruitment
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Workforce and Recruitment
found on page B -63.
Mr. Chairman, staffing stands at 50 FTEs (full -
time equivalent employees), up by one. But we have 10
funded vacancies and filling them is essential. To that
end, IDT has been working with the DEOD on recruitment. These include a chief systems engineer for the
Wintel Systems, a security manager, a network engineer, four systems engineers, a security analyst, a support analyst, and an operations analyst. We are addressing recruitment challenges head- on through a
new apprenticeship programme, building a pipeli ne of
young Bermudians, IT professionals, to meet not just IDT's needs, but also Bermuda's digital future.
Output Measures
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Output Measures, pages B -64
and B -65.
Mr. Chairman, I will state up front that not all
service targets were met. The team worked under pressure to manage a post -attack backlog while pushing
forward critical upgrades.
Business Unit 53030, Device Support
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Performances this year, business
unit 53030 Device Support —70 per cent of tickets resolved within targets, below the 90 per cent goal, but
improving.
Business Unit 53035, Network Support
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Business unit 53035, Network
Support, met 75 per cent target rising to 85 per cent this
year.
Business Unit 53040, Service Support Sen. Mischa Fubler: Business unit 53040, Service
Support, held steady at 25 per cent first -call resolution.
Business Unit 53060, Business System Support
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Business unit, 53060 Business
System Support, achieved 70 per cent of the monthly
review meetings; target is now 90 per cent.
Business Unit 53090, Security
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Business unit 53090, Security,
delivered on its 100 per cent goal, a critical win.
Projects in 2024/25
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Mr. Chairman, despite challenges, IDT made real strides. Microsoft 365 was deployed government -wide for more secure collaborative
work. Infrastructure renewal is underway, improving system speed, uptime and resilience.
Network hardware replaced at critical sites, including the airport and Government Administration
Building. Unified communications project completed at
95 per cent. Streamlining systems and lowering costs.
The iSeries refresh is completed, ensuring core financial systems remain stable and secure.
Plans for the Upcoming Year
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Mr. Chairman, IDT's 2025 business plan will focus on three pillars.
1. Strengthening cybersecurity, disaster recovery and incident response. IDT's top priority is protecting government systems, data and users
through a proactive layered cybersecurity approach. Key initiatives include:
a) advanced endpoint protection: state-of-the-art tools to secure all government connected devices ;
b) 24/7 threat monitoring: constant sur-veillance to detect and respond to suspicious activity in real time;
c) vulnerability assessments and penetration testing: regular system reviews
to identify and fix weaknesses before
they are exploited;
d) email threat detection: intelligent solutions to prevent phishing and email -
borne attacks ;
e) cybersecurity awareness training: educating public officers to serve as the
first line of defence; and
f) updated disaster recovery and incident
response plans ensuring business continuity and fast recovery during disruptions .
2. Delivering high performance, scalable and resilient IT infrastructure. To support the
344 5 June 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda Senate government's growth and service expectations, IDT is modernising its core infrastructure
with a focus on speed, stability and long- term
reliability. Planned efforts include:
a) replacing legacy hardware: phasing out outdated systems to reduce failure
risk and increasing performance
b) application consolidation: eliminating
redundant software to streamline processes and lower costs
c) rewiring Global House: a critical upgrade to boost connectivity and improve network stability and prepare for
future needs
3. Supporting data- driven decision- making. IDT is
investing in tools that enable departments to
transform data into insights and actionable out-comes. Key outcomes targeted are:
a) real-time operational insights for faster
and smarter responses
b) identifying trends and opportunities to inform long- term planning, and
c) evidence- based decision across government.
This will be enabled by user-friendly dashboards and clear comprehensive reporting tools to empower every department to measure, manage and improve performance.
Closing thoughts: Mr. Chairman, IDT is not
simply reacting to a crisis. They are using it as a catalyst for transformation. This budget represents a strategic shift away from patchwork fixes and toward a coherent, protected and people- centred digital gover nment. To the Acting Chief Information Officer, Gina
Benjamin, and the IDT team, I thank you. Your resolve
in the face of unprecedented challenges has kept the
government running and allowed us to rebuild stronger.
With this budget, we don’t just recover, we leap forward.
This concludes my comments on Head 43, Information and Digital Technology.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
The Chairman Chairman
Thank you, Senator Fubler. Would any Senator care to speak on Heads 9, 32 or 43? I see Senator Cunningham’s hand up first. Sen. Victoria Cunningham: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would propose that we go by head.
The Chairman Chairman
Senator Fubler, is that fine if we go head by head? Sen. Mischa Fubler: I mean we have considerable time. Dealer’s choice. Sen. Victoria Cunningham: Okay, Well, I will start at the top and we will see where we get to. Okay. Thank you very much for that comprehensive brief. …
Senator Fubler, is that fine if we go
head by head?
Sen. Mischa Fubler: I mean we have considerable
time. Dealer’s choice.
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: Okay, Well, I will start at
the top and we will see where we get to. Okay. Thank you very much for that comprehensive brief. Obviously three very different reports
there. But thank you. I just want to delve into a few
things a little further.
Firstly, on page B -40 the Economic Policy and
Foreign Affairs Unit where you have got the London,
Washington, DC, and Brussels Offices. I have a question actually related to I guess page B -43 with the DC
Office that is looking at maintaining a database of Bermudian college students residing in the US.
My question is, why are we just worried about
Bermudian students in the US? And I get those issues
right now with students. But if we are building a database, why would we not think about Canada, UK and
other jurisdictions.
head by head?
Sen. Mischa Fubler: I mean we have considerable
time. Dealer’s choice.
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: Okay, Well, I will start at
the top and we will see where we get to. Okay. Thank you very much for that comprehensive brief. Obviously three very different reports
there. But thank you. I just want to delve into a few
things a little further.
Firstly, on page B -40 the Economic Policy and
Foreign Affairs Unit where you have got the London,
Washington, DC, and Brussels Offices. I have a question actually related to I guess page B -43 with the DC
Office that is looking at maintaining a database of Bermudian college students residing in the US.
My question is, why are we just worried about
Bermudian students in the US? And I get those issues
right now with students. But if we are building a database, why would we not think about Canada, UK and
other jurisdictions.
The Chairman Chairman
Senator Fubler, would you like to . . . Sen. Mischa Fubler: Oh, so if we go question for question that is fine. I think it is in working with implementing new systems. I think it is often best practice to take an iterative approach to implementing them. So, we …
Senator Fubler, would you like to . . .
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Oh, so if we go question for question that is fine. I think it is in working with implementing
new systems. I think it is often best practice to take an
iterative approach to implementing them. So, we are
trialling this with the DC Office. And I assume we will
continue to look to implement that in other jurisdictions
as well.
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: And then, on the London
Office. I guess as a performance measure, do we know
how many inquiries they have had from Bermudians
who have relocated to the UK about, I guess it is not
visa issues but issues that they might be having when
they are there. Or st udents.
Sen. Mischa Fubler: If you would like to present additional questions while I wait for responses from the
technical officers on that one you . . . are looking for
specific numbers of . . .
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: Just, I mean, is it a small
amount or is it in the hundreds?
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Okay, like the order of magnitude
. . .
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: More to give us an idea
of . . . Yes.
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Okay. And specifically, around
people reaching out to the London Office who are moving from Bermuda to the London Office or all of their
interactions with . . .
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: I guess the London Office
interactions with any Bermudians in the UK. So, it could
be students as well.
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Okay. All right. We have got that
one down and do you have any more?
Bermuda Senate Sen. Victoria Cunningham: No . . . yes.
Then, back on the DC Office. On page B -43
you talk about being collaborative with US policymakers and the sort. Do they collaborate with ABIR, the Association of Bermuda Insurers and Reinsurers who
have a policymaking function within the Bermuda market? I guess that would be a yes or no answer.
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Okay. That is a good question.
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: I think that is it for the
Economic Policy.
Moving on to the Digital Transformation line.
So, we see obviously the . . . you are saying that it was
started last year coming on board. And I think you explained that the professionals . . . that there are no employees in that unit. And they are all goi ng to be under
the Professional Services line. But my question then
would be if . . . what role will . . . or how will the Cabinet
Office determine or measure effectiveness of any initiatives when managing the funds without dedicated
staff? Because I also do not see any performance
measures related to it.
And I get that it is a new unit. But I would think
if there were a line item and a budget there should be
a corresponding performance measure. But how are
we going to be able to measure that effectiveness if
there are not dedicated staff and they are all c onsultants?
And then again on page B -40, the Policy and
Strategy unit, 19015, what was the reason for the increase we are seeing, the 36 per cent, under the general header? I do not think I heard it. Policy and Strategy, 19015, is going from $ 527,000 . . . sorry, $666,000
to $907,000, an increase of $241[,000] .
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Okay. Any others?
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: Yes.
So back to the Digital Transformation. Sorry,
we are flipping around. So, we have the Digital Transformation line. We have obviously different ministries
and departments who are going through fairly sizable
transformation projects. Immigration is one that comes
to mind. Will the Cabinet Office be coordinating those
efforts to ensure that there is no duplication and to ensure that there is a unified strategy? Is that management going to come from this unit?
Still on digitisation, do you think the current
funding is adequate to sustain all of the efforts that are
out there, any new projects? And what happens to their
contingency plans if unexpected costs arise or the project requires any scaling or kind of moving out?
And then a final one on digitisation is, How is
the Government balancing the digitisation with cybersecurity needs across ministries especially as now the
services, more services, are going to becoming accessible online? And then a final question, if I may on Head 9,
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Oh, so if we go question for question that is fine. I think it is in working with implementing
new systems. I think it is often best practice to take an
iterative approach to implementing them. So, we are
trialling this with the DC Office. And I assume we will
continue to look to implement that in other jurisdictions
as well.
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: And then, on the London
Office. I guess as a performance measure, do we know
how many inquiries they have had from Bermudians
who have relocated to the UK about, I guess it is not
visa issues but issues that they might be having when
they are there. Or st udents.
Sen. Mischa Fubler: If you would like to present additional questions while I wait for responses from the
technical officers on that one you . . . are looking for
specific numbers of . . .
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: Just, I mean, is it a small
amount or is it in the hundreds?
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Okay, like the order of magnitude
. . .
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: More to give us an idea
of . . . Yes.
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Okay. And specifically, around
people reaching out to the London Office who are moving from Bermuda to the London Office or all of their
interactions with . . .
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: I guess the London Office
interactions with any Bermudians in the UK. So, it could
be students as well.
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Okay. All right. We have got that
one down and do you have any more?
Bermuda Senate Sen. Victoria Cunningham: No . . . yes.
Then, back on the DC Office. On page B -43
you talk about being collaborative with US policymakers and the sort. Do they collaborate with ABIR, the Association of Bermuda Insurers and Reinsurers who
have a policymaking function within the Bermuda market? I guess that would be a yes or no answer.
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Okay. That is a good question.
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: I think that is it for the
Economic Policy.
Moving on to the Digital Transformation line.
So, we see obviously the . . . you are saying that it was
started last year coming on board. And I think you explained that the professionals . . . that there are no employees in that unit. And they are all goi ng to be under
the Professional Services line. But my question then
would be if . . . what role will . . . or how will the Cabinet
Office determine or measure effectiveness of any initiatives when managing the funds without dedicated
staff? Because I also do not see any performance
measures related to it.
And I get that it is a new unit. But I would think
if there were a line item and a budget there should be
a corresponding performance measure. But how are
we going to be able to measure that effectiveness if
there are not dedicated staff and they are all c onsultants?
And then again on page B -40, the Policy and
Strategy unit, 19015, what was the reason for the increase we are seeing, the 36 per cent, under the general header? I do not think I heard it. Policy and Strategy, 19015, is going from $ 527,000 . . . sorry, $666,000
to $907,000, an increase of $241[,000] .
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Okay. Any others?
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: Yes.
So back to the Digital Transformation. Sorry,
we are flipping around. So, we have the Digital Transformation line. We have obviously different ministries
and departments who are going through fairly sizable
transformation projects. Immigration is one that comes
to mind. Will the Cabinet Office be coordinating those
efforts to ensure that there is no duplication and to ensure that there is a unified strategy? Is that management going to come from this unit?
Still on digitisation, do you think the current
funding is adequate to sustain all of the efforts that are
out there, any new projects? And what happens to their
contingency plans if unexpected costs arise or the project requires any scaling or kind of moving out?
And then a final one on digitisation is, How is
the Government balancing the digitisation with cybersecurity needs across ministries especially as now the
services, more services, are going to becoming accessible online? And then a final question, if I may on Head 9,
Mr. Chairman.
The Chairman
Please proceed, yes. Sen. Victoria Cunningham: To do with the Safety and Health. So, page B -40, line 19020 under Government Reform. I understand that Health has the Occupational Safety and Health for private external and then this Safety and Health Department is for internal government health. I note that …
Please proceed, yes.
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: To do with the Safety and
Health.
So, page B -40, line 19020 under Government
Reform. I understand that Health has the Occupational
Safety and Health for private external and then this
Safety and Health Department is for internal government health. I note that there are one or two . . . there
is one full -time employee. Do you think that is enough
for the audits that they are supposed to be undertaking
annually? Should there be more. . . I mean, ultimately,
this our public service, so we have a duty of care. The
Government owes them a duty of care.
But I just also wanted to know the metric of the
third measure on page B -43. The level of completion of
workplace and building inspections. I am guessing that
is the number. And are the public sector workplaces
evaluated to the same standard as the private sector ?
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: To do with the Safety and
Health.
So, page B -40, line 19020 under Government
Reform. I understand that Health has the Occupational
Safety and Health for private external and then this
Safety and Health Department is for internal government health. I note that there are one or two . . . there
is one full -time employee. Do you think that is enough
for the audits that they are supposed to be undertaking
annually? Should there be more. . . I mean, ultimately,
this our public service, so we have a duty of care. The
Government owes them a duty of care.
But I just also wanted to know the metric of the
third measure on page B -43. The level of completion of
workplace and building inspections. I am guessing that
is the number. And are the public sector workplaces
evaluated to the same standard as the private sector ?
The Chairman Chairman
Senator Cunningham, — [Crosstalk]
The Chairman Chairman
I am sorry, was that the last question? Sen. Victoria Cunningham: That was the last question in Head 9.
The Chairman Chairman
Would any other Senator like to ask a question on Head 9? I see Senator Tannock standing up. Senator. Sen. Tawana Tannock: Yes, thank you Mr. Chairman. My question on Head 9 relates to 19075, page B-44, and that is in relation to the performance metrics of the Brussels Office. …
Would any other Senator like to ask a
question on Head 9?
I see Senator Tannock standing up.
Senator.
Sen. Tawana Tannock: Yes, thank you Mr. Chairman.
My question on Head 9 relates to 19075, page
B-44, and that is in relation to the performance metrics
of the Brussels Office. I note that it says the measure
indicated is to provide policy advice to the Government
of Bermuda on relevant developments within the European Union and member states. And the actual outcome is 100 per cent. And it is 100 per cent across the
board. Can you tell me how that 100 per cent is calculated? That is under Head 9.
I do have further questions, but under different
heads.
Sen. Mischa Fubler: I am happy to take questions
across all heads as we continue to compile responses
with the technical officers.
Sen. Tawana Tannock: Okay, thank you.
My next question comes under Head 32, page
B-61, under the Department of Planning. And it is with
regard to the four performance measures under 42080,
Building Permits. When I look at the four areas of
346 5 June 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda Senate permits, there was a noticeable dip in the original forecast for 2024/25 and the revised forecast. So, for instance, the number of residential building permit applications reviewed, and percentage processed within six
weeks of registration. The original forecast was 70 per
cent. The revised forecast is now 42 per cent.
For the number of commercial building permit
applications reviewed and percentage processed
within eight weeks, the original forecast was 70 per
cent. It is now 68 [per cent]. For the number of building
revisions reviewed and percentage process within 10
working days, the original forecast was 70 [per cent], it
is now 35 per cent. And for the number of permitted development permits, minor works reviewed and percentage processed within 10 working days following receipt, it was forecast to be 70 per cent and now it is
68 [per cent], which is not such a large gap.
But then I go to the target outcome for 2025/26,
and I see that we are projecting to go back to the 70 per
cent. So, my first question is why was there a dip in the
amount processed? And my second question is, How
do you intend to achieve higher percentages? Was it a
staffing issue? Was it a backlog? So, just why was
there a dip and how will we get to the forecasted numbers?
Sen. Mischa Fubler: I can actually provide a response
to that one. That was captured in the brief. The Planning Department did state that they were experiencing
some staffing challenges that have now been resolved.
They are back up to a full complement.
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: Just in case your officers
are actually looking at that, alongside that, because it
is split by residential and commercial, my question
would be, is there . . . it looks like there are obviously
more residential permits than commercial so you would
almost expect that more commercials are going to get
reviewed and processed. But is there more of a priority
on commercial versus residential? Or is it just as they
come? How do they prioritise which permit applications
they are going to work on?
question on Head 9?
I see Senator Tannock standing up.
Senator.
Sen. Tawana Tannock: Yes, thank you Mr. Chairman.
My question on Head 9 relates to 19075, page
B-44, and that is in relation to the performance metrics
of the Brussels Office. I note that it says the measure
indicated is to provide policy advice to the Government
of Bermuda on relevant developments within the European Union and member states. And the actual outcome is 100 per cent. And it is 100 per cent across the
board. Can you tell me how that 100 per cent is calculated? That is under Head 9.
I do have further questions, but under different
heads.
Sen. Mischa Fubler: I am happy to take questions
across all heads as we continue to compile responses
with the technical officers.
Sen. Tawana Tannock: Okay, thank you.
My next question comes under Head 32, page
B-61, under the Department of Planning. And it is with
regard to the four performance measures under 42080,
Building Permits. When I look at the four areas of
346 5 June 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda Senate permits, there was a noticeable dip in the original forecast for 2024/25 and the revised forecast. So, for instance, the number of residential building permit applications reviewed, and percentage processed within six
weeks of registration. The original forecast was 70 per
cent. The revised forecast is now 42 per cent.
For the number of commercial building permit
applications reviewed and percentage processed
within eight weeks, the original forecast was 70 per
cent. It is now 68 [per cent]. For the number of building
revisions reviewed and percentage process within 10
working days, the original forecast was 70 [per cent], it
is now 35 per cent. And for the number of permitted development permits, minor works reviewed and percentage processed within 10 working days following receipt, it was forecast to be 70 per cent and now it is
68 [per cent], which is not such a large gap.
But then I go to the target outcome for 2025/26,
and I see that we are projecting to go back to the 70 per
cent. So, my first question is why was there a dip in the
amount processed? And my second question is, How
do you intend to achieve higher percentages? Was it a
staffing issue? Was it a backlog? So, just why was
there a dip and how will we get to the forecasted numbers?
Sen. Mischa Fubler: I can actually provide a response
to that one. That was captured in the brief. The Planning Department did state that they were experiencing
some staffing challenges that have now been resolved.
They are back up to a full complement.
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: Just in case your officers
are actually looking at that, alongside that, because it
is split by residential and commercial, my question
would be, is there . . . it looks like there are obviously
more residential permits than commercial so you would
almost expect that more commercials are going to get
reviewed and processed. But is there more of a priority
on commercial versus residential? Or is it just as they
come? How do they prioritise which permit applications
they are going to work on?
The Chairman Chairman
Would any other Senator care to ask a question. Senator Tannock. Sen. Tawana Tannock: Yes, I do have one final question and that is under Head 43, Information and Digital Technologies. This question is related to 53996, cyber incident 2023. It is simply to say that I note that amount …
Would any other Senator care to ask a
question.
Senator Tannock.
Sen. Tawana Tannock: Yes, I do have one final question and that is under Head 43, Information and Digital
Technologies.
This question is related to 53996, cyber incident 2023. It is simply to say that I note that amount for
2023/24 that is $1,323,000, and then I see zeroes going across. So, I would assume that is because we
have decided that we have rectified that and no longer
need to address the ramifications of that incident.
However, my concern is that when I look
through the rest of Head 43, and when I look through
the performance measures I do not see anything related to cybersecurity. So, my natural inclination
would be to think it is under National Security . . . sorry,
Defence.
However, when I looked under the performance metrics of Defence there is nothing listed there.
And with the Cybersecurity Act [2024] passing in the
House in May 2024, I would have expected to see, and
with the Cybersecurity Advisory Board, which is comprised of the Chief Information Technology Officer and
the Chief, I guess, Cybersecurity Officer, I would have
expected to see somewhere within those two budgets
a provision for the plan for the cybersecurity.
So, I just wanted to know, given that we have
passed this legislation and given that it is supposed to
comprise of heads of both ministries, why is it not encapsulated in either of these performance measures for
either of these . . . either ministries or departments?
question.
Senator Tannock.
Sen. Tawana Tannock: Yes, I do have one final question and that is under Head 43, Information and Digital
Technologies.
This question is related to 53996, cyber incident 2023. It is simply to say that I note that amount for
2023/24 that is $1,323,000, and then I see zeroes going across. So, I would assume that is because we
have decided that we have rectified that and no longer
need to address the ramifications of that incident.
However, my concern is that when I look
through the rest of Head 43, and when I look through
the performance measures I do not see anything related to cybersecurity. So, my natural inclination
would be to think it is under National Security . . . sorry,
Defence.
However, when I looked under the performance metrics of Defence there is nothing listed there.
And with the Cybersecurity Act [2024] passing in the
House in May 2024, I would have expected to see, and
with the Cybersecurity Advisory Board, which is comprised of the Chief Information Technology Officer and
the Chief, I guess, Cybersecurity Officer, I would have
expected to see somewhere within those two budgets
a provision for the plan for the cybersecurity.
So, I just wanted to know, given that we have
passed this legislation and given that it is supposed to
comprise of heads of both ministries, why is it not encapsulated in either of these performance measures for
either of these . . . either ministries or departments?
The Chairman Chairman
Thank you, Senator Tannock. Sen. Tawana Tannock: I have no further questions. Thank you.
The Chairman Chairman
No further questions. Okay. Thank you. Senator Cunningham. Sen. Victoria Cunningham: Sorry, I may have said a mistruth when I [said I] was done with the Cabinet Office. I have one further question so far on page C -9 for the Capital Account Estimates. We are looking at $500,000 for …
No further questions. Okay. Thank
you.
Senator Cunningham.
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: Sorry, I may have said a
mistruth when I [said I] was done with the Cabinet Office. I have one further question so far on page C -9 for
the Capital Account Estimates. We are looking at
$500,000 for the cooperative food supply. I just wanted
to know if the Junior Minister could point me to where
that fits within the department objectives of the Cabinet
Office which are listed on page B -39?
And then moving on to Head 32 and the Department of Planning. You mentioned that the team is
now fully staffed. Is that as of 1 April, at the beginning
of this budget year? And I did note that Front Desk Operation had dropped but is now back. So, I guess
maybe there was a blip in that and now it's back up fully
operational.
Then moving on . . . on page B -60, on business
unit 42060, Forward Planning, halfway down the page
there is reference to the completion of an annual housing land audit, which is at 100 per cent. That was a very
interesting read as I was doing my review of this. I took
a read of that. And so, I think my question to do with this is, What systems are in place to ensure the ongoing
monitoring of housing trends and how frequently will
the future audits be conducted to inform those policy
decisions?
And from that report they found that there were
236 uninhabitable structures identified in 2023. And the
Junior Minister mentioned a vacant and derelict . . . let
me see exactly what he said, there was something coming on board for a vacant land review of . . . a vacant property database. So, I assume that those will be
included in there. Is there a difference between vacant
Bermuda Senate and derelict? Well, I know there is a difference, but what
is the difference from that standpoint? Sorry.
And then, Mr. Chairman, What measures are
being taken by the Department of Planning to encourage more new builds, especially maybe in some of the underutilised parishes (although you could argue that
not many of them are underutilised), but maybe financial or regulatory incentives for new builds over additions and conversions? So, there being a difference be-tween that.
And then again, with the uninhabitable properties, what would the department's plan be for the 236
uninhabitable properties in residential one and two
zones?
And I don't know if this would be relevant to this
department, but what is being done to resolve title disputes and absentee ownership issues? I think, and I have to say I've watched programmes on the €1 or €10
houses in Italy and sales . And I think encouraging people to invest in some of this housing stock could lead to
less of the stalling of the housing supply.
Still on this, moving to the . . . well, I guess in
line with the question from my colleague, Senator Tannock. She was talking about [business unit] 42080 on
page B -61 with the building permits and there being a
big difference. From a resource perspective, do we allocate more resources to the residential applications than the commercial? Because I assume there are a lot more residential, probably by almost half. And how is
the department split between residential and commercial development, especially when we are looking at
potentially needing a lot more residential units?
And I believe that is the end of my questions.
Oh . . . yes, that's the end of my questions for Head 32,
Department of Planning.
you.
Senator Cunningham.
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: Sorry, I may have said a
mistruth when I [said I] was done with the Cabinet Office. I have one further question so far on page C -9 for
the Capital Account Estimates. We are looking at
$500,000 for the cooperative food supply. I just wanted
to know if the Junior Minister could point me to where
that fits within the department objectives of the Cabinet
Office which are listed on page B -39?
And then moving on to Head 32 and the Department of Planning. You mentioned that the team is
now fully staffed. Is that as of 1 April, at the beginning
of this budget year? And I did note that Front Desk Operation had dropped but is now back. So, I guess
maybe there was a blip in that and now it's back up fully
operational.
Then moving on . . . on page B -60, on business
unit 42060, Forward Planning, halfway down the page
there is reference to the completion of an annual housing land audit, which is at 100 per cent. That was a very
interesting read as I was doing my review of this. I took
a read of that. And so, I think my question to do with this is, What systems are in place to ensure the ongoing
monitoring of housing trends and how frequently will
the future audits be conducted to inform those policy
decisions?
And from that report they found that there were
236 uninhabitable structures identified in 2023. And the
Junior Minister mentioned a vacant and derelict . . . let
me see exactly what he said, there was something coming on board for a vacant land review of . . . a vacant property database. So, I assume that those will be
included in there. Is there a difference between vacant
Bermuda Senate and derelict? Well, I know there is a difference, but what
is the difference from that standpoint? Sorry.
And then, Mr. Chairman, What measures are
being taken by the Department of Planning to encourage more new builds, especially maybe in some of the underutilised parishes (although you could argue that
not many of them are underutilised), but maybe financial or regulatory incentives for new builds over additions and conversions? So, there being a difference be-tween that.
And then again, with the uninhabitable properties, what would the department's plan be for the 236
uninhabitable properties in residential one and two
zones?
And I don't know if this would be relevant to this
department, but what is being done to resolve title disputes and absentee ownership issues? I think, and I have to say I've watched programmes on the €1 or €10
houses in Italy and sales . And I think encouraging people to invest in some of this housing stock could lead to
less of the stalling of the housing supply.
Still on this, moving to the . . . well, I guess in
line with the question from my colleague, Senator Tannock. She was talking about [business unit] 42080 on
page B -61 with the building permits and there being a
big difference. From a resource perspective, do we allocate more resources to the residential applications than the commercial? Because I assume there are a lot more residential, probably by almost half. And how is
the department split between residential and commercial development, especially when we are looking at
potentially needing a lot more residential units?
And I believe that is the end of my questions.
Oh . . . yes, that's the end of my questions for Head 32,
Department of Planning.
The Chairman Chairman
Junior Minister Fubler, how would you like to proceed? Would you like to— Sen. Mischa Fubler: I think I have some responses ready. If we'd like to do that, I'm going to look at the time. Yeah, we got lots of time. Okay, and so I'll start with an easy …
Junior Minister Fubler, how would you
like to proceed?
Would you like to—
Sen. Mischa Fubler: I think I have some responses
ready. If we'd like to do that, I'm going to look at the
time. Yeah, we got lots of time.
Okay, and so I'll start with an easy one. Yes,
the DC Office does collaborate with ABIR. There you go.
And regarding digital transformation, will the
Cabinet Office be coordinating efforts that are taking place in other ministries and departments like what's
going on in Immigration? And for that response, the Ministry of Economy and Labour is leading the immigration digitisation initiatives.
And next up, what happens if additional costs
arise in digital transformation work? How will those be handled? The Ministry intends to adhere to the allocated budget. If additional funding is essential, it will be requested in accordance with normal procedures. As
an example, requesting additional funding at the midyear budget review, potentially. And next question I had from Senator Cunningham was how will security be handled as projects develop? The Department of Digital Transformation is
working closely with IDT, PIPA, and National Security
on cybersecurity needs to ensure that projects align with industry standards and best practices.
There was another question from Senator Cunningham around safety and health. Health has an Oc-cupational Safety and Health for external versus internal . . . one full -time employee, do you think that is
enough? Should there be more? We have a duty of
care, the metric of inspections . . . are the public sector
workplaces evaluated to the same standard? And so,
the response here, the Department of Health is the regulator for the country. They oversee both the private
and public sectors equally. The Cabinet Off ice Occupational Safety and Health Office fulfils the obligations of
the government as an employer. The metric for all employers needs to be queried of the Department of
Health as it isn't controlled by the Cabinet Office.
And then moving on to some of the questions
posed by Senator Tannock . . . still waiting on the Brussels Office metrics. But for planning, I think I gave the
response here, the reason for the dip was the staffing
challenges and we intend to achieve forecas ted 70 per
cent by a combination of hiring consultants and reforming the process.
And they also asked . . . I’m taking this from
Senator Cunningham, looks like there's more residential than commercial requests, maybe vice versa, but is
there more priority and how do we prioritise which applications are addressed first? And the response here
is that applications are not prioritised based on whether
they are residential or commercial. Applications are
processed in the order they are received. The exception for this is for projects of national importance such
as a government project serving a broader community
economic need or a permit associated with the north arm dock repairs and dockyard for the purposes of
berthing marine and ports tugboats as an example.
I imagine some of the discrepancy in the rates
there is that for the residential there may be less experience in the submission of the applications and so it's
more difficult to process those as they need more back
and forth.
And Head 43, the cyber incident. We can work
with the Ministry of National Security who should be
capturing these performance measures. Thanks for
calling that out.
And then Senator Cunningham had a question
about Head 32. Is the team fully staffed? The front -end
desk is fully operational. The department is not fully
staffed. The enforcement team is currently fully staffed.
However, there are vacant posts in other sec tions for
which recruitment is ongoing. For example, a vacant planner post in the development management section,
the section that processes planning applications and
there's a vacant building inspector post.
348 5 June 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda Senate Also, some questions around the measurements for National Security from Senator Tannock. If
you turn to Head 83, business unit 93007, disaster risk
and reduction mitigation can be found there.
[Inaudible interjection]
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Page B -265, Disaster Risk Reduce and Mitigation, [there was] an increase of 122 per
cent this year, which is $422,000, the allocation for this
year. Although, I don't know if I'm supposed to be speaking to other heads outside of my remit.
Okay. Senator Cunningham had a question
around Head 32, page B -60, the business unit [for] Forward Planning, referencing completion of the housing
land audit. What systems are in place to ensure monitoring of housing trends? Performance measures indi-cate t hese are annual, and the department has been
achieving these targets.
There was a question regarding the vacant and
derelict property database. What's the difference? The data for the vacant and derelict properties project is
taken from the records of the Department of Land Valuations, namely, those properties which have been
identified as uninhabitable. The project does not differ-entiate between vacant and derelict properties. So,
there you go. They're kind of the same. Okay.
And then, Head 32, what's been done to encourage new builds over additions and conversions?
And the response is that the vacant and derelict properties project is the first step towards the department identifying development opportunity sites which will encourage development of brownfield, i.e., previously developed sites, which I think is the more environmentally sustainable option as opposed to new build. That's definitely my preference if we have to choose between the two.
And then what's being done with absentee
ownership? This is not an issue for the department to resolve. Ownership details are not a relevant consideration for planning decisions. Planning permission runs
with the land, not the owner.
And also from Head 32, Senator Cunningham,
do we allocate more resources to residential building permit applications? How is the department split between residential and commercial development given
that we need many more residential units? This was
answered above somewhat , given the approach of assessing in the order received. How ever, in the near future, announcements will be made in respect of improv-ing processing and refined requirements for submissions.
Far too many incomplete applications have
been taking excessive lengths of time for officers to re-view and chase missing information. I think I alluded to
this with the residential, especially. You are probably working with someone who's maybe less experienced
or a smaller office, the chance of an incomplete submission is higher. This cannot continue —chasing the missing information. And so, the department will be
more strict in enforcing complete applications. The department is currently in the midst of meeting with key
stakeholder groups to discuss the plan changes to obtain critical feedback before going live with the new ini-tiative.
I'm just scrolling back through some of the
other questions. I think I already gave a response to around why we are only tracking the US college students to start. We are going to pilot it first and make
sure we iron out the kinks before we expand to other
jurisdictions.
The next question you had around the London
Office and its interactions. The London Office maintains a data log of all incidents relating to counsellor matters
to support Bermudians in the UK living, studying or travelling. These incidents extend beyond th e UK and can
be global at times. In some instances, we are working
with UK and Bermuda authorities as required. And I assume . . . hold on one second.
Okay. And so, moving on, how will the Cabinet
Office measure effectiveness without dedicated staff
where overseas offices hire consultants? Consultants
have reporting lines and deliverables under their contracts. Those are measured in similar ways to publi c officers. London Office staff are public officers. I guess in the Brussels Office instance, that's a consultant. But they report in to public officers. And so, there's performance review conducted there as part of the contract.
What else do we have? Oh . . . and so your
question around Head 9, the $500,000 for the co- ops,
where does that fit into the objectives on B -39? This
one is close to my heart. I am a big fan of collective
economics and I would argue that objective five, ensuring implementation of government reform priorities captures that objective. Maybe we get creative sometimes
to ensure that we implement the initiatives we campaigned on.
Going forward . . . what else do we have here?
I think there's one or two that I'm still awaiting responses on.
Mr. Chairman, if you would like to solicit any
additional questions there might be, I think we have 20
or 19 more minutes.
like to proceed?
Would you like to—
Sen. Mischa Fubler: I think I have some responses
ready. If we'd like to do that, I'm going to look at the
time. Yeah, we got lots of time.
Okay, and so I'll start with an easy one. Yes,
the DC Office does collaborate with ABIR. There you go.
And regarding digital transformation, will the
Cabinet Office be coordinating efforts that are taking place in other ministries and departments like what's
going on in Immigration? And for that response, the Ministry of Economy and Labour is leading the immigration digitisation initiatives.
And next up, what happens if additional costs
arise in digital transformation work? How will those be handled? The Ministry intends to adhere to the allocated budget. If additional funding is essential, it will be requested in accordance with normal procedures. As
an example, requesting additional funding at the midyear budget review, potentially. And next question I had from Senator Cunningham was how will security be handled as projects develop? The Department of Digital Transformation is
working closely with IDT, PIPA, and National Security
on cybersecurity needs to ensure that projects align with industry standards and best practices.
There was another question from Senator Cunningham around safety and health. Health has an Oc-cupational Safety and Health for external versus internal . . . one full -time employee, do you think that is
enough? Should there be more? We have a duty of
care, the metric of inspections . . . are the public sector
workplaces evaluated to the same standard? And so,
the response here, the Department of Health is the regulator for the country. They oversee both the private
and public sectors equally. The Cabinet Off ice Occupational Safety and Health Office fulfils the obligations of
the government as an employer. The metric for all employers needs to be queried of the Department of
Health as it isn't controlled by the Cabinet Office.
And then moving on to some of the questions
posed by Senator Tannock . . . still waiting on the Brussels Office metrics. But for planning, I think I gave the
response here, the reason for the dip was the staffing
challenges and we intend to achieve forecas ted 70 per
cent by a combination of hiring consultants and reforming the process.
And they also asked . . . I’m taking this from
Senator Cunningham, looks like there's more residential than commercial requests, maybe vice versa, but is
there more priority and how do we prioritise which applications are addressed first? And the response here
is that applications are not prioritised based on whether
they are residential or commercial. Applications are
processed in the order they are received. The exception for this is for projects of national importance such
as a government project serving a broader community
economic need or a permit associated with the north arm dock repairs and dockyard for the purposes of
berthing marine and ports tugboats as an example.
I imagine some of the discrepancy in the rates
there is that for the residential there may be less experience in the submission of the applications and so it's
more difficult to process those as they need more back
and forth.
And Head 43, the cyber incident. We can work
with the Ministry of National Security who should be
capturing these performance measures. Thanks for
calling that out.
And then Senator Cunningham had a question
about Head 32. Is the team fully staffed? The front -end
desk is fully operational. The department is not fully
staffed. The enforcement team is currently fully staffed.
However, there are vacant posts in other sec tions for
which recruitment is ongoing. For example, a vacant planner post in the development management section,
the section that processes planning applications and
there's a vacant building inspector post.
348 5 June 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda Senate Also, some questions around the measurements for National Security from Senator Tannock. If
you turn to Head 83, business unit 93007, disaster risk
and reduction mitigation can be found there.
[Inaudible interjection]
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Page B -265, Disaster Risk Reduce and Mitigation, [there was] an increase of 122 per
cent this year, which is $422,000, the allocation for this
year. Although, I don't know if I'm supposed to be speaking to other heads outside of my remit.
Okay. Senator Cunningham had a question
around Head 32, page B -60, the business unit [for] Forward Planning, referencing completion of the housing
land audit. What systems are in place to ensure monitoring of housing trends? Performance measures indi-cate t hese are annual, and the department has been
achieving these targets.
There was a question regarding the vacant and
derelict property database. What's the difference? The data for the vacant and derelict properties project is
taken from the records of the Department of Land Valuations, namely, those properties which have been
identified as uninhabitable. The project does not differ-entiate between vacant and derelict properties. So,
there you go. They're kind of the same. Okay.
And then, Head 32, what's been done to encourage new builds over additions and conversions?
And the response is that the vacant and derelict properties project is the first step towards the department identifying development opportunity sites which will encourage development of brownfield, i.e., previously developed sites, which I think is the more environmentally sustainable option as opposed to new build. That's definitely my preference if we have to choose between the two.
And then what's being done with absentee
ownership? This is not an issue for the department to resolve. Ownership details are not a relevant consideration for planning decisions. Planning permission runs
with the land, not the owner.
And also from Head 32, Senator Cunningham,
do we allocate more resources to residential building permit applications? How is the department split between residential and commercial development given
that we need many more residential units? This was
answered above somewhat , given the approach of assessing in the order received. How ever, in the near future, announcements will be made in respect of improv-ing processing and refined requirements for submissions.
Far too many incomplete applications have
been taking excessive lengths of time for officers to re-view and chase missing information. I think I alluded to
this with the residential, especially. You are probably working with someone who's maybe less experienced
or a smaller office, the chance of an incomplete submission is higher. This cannot continue —chasing the missing information. And so, the department will be
more strict in enforcing complete applications. The department is currently in the midst of meeting with key
stakeholder groups to discuss the plan changes to obtain critical feedback before going live with the new ini-tiative.
I'm just scrolling back through some of the
other questions. I think I already gave a response to around why we are only tracking the US college students to start. We are going to pilot it first and make
sure we iron out the kinks before we expand to other
jurisdictions.
The next question you had around the London
Office and its interactions. The London Office maintains a data log of all incidents relating to counsellor matters
to support Bermudians in the UK living, studying or travelling. These incidents extend beyond th e UK and can
be global at times. In some instances, we are working
with UK and Bermuda authorities as required. And I assume . . . hold on one second.
Okay. And so, moving on, how will the Cabinet
Office measure effectiveness without dedicated staff
where overseas offices hire consultants? Consultants
have reporting lines and deliverables under their contracts. Those are measured in similar ways to publi c officers. London Office staff are public officers. I guess in the Brussels Office instance, that's a consultant. But they report in to public officers. And so, there's performance review conducted there as part of the contract.
What else do we have? Oh . . . and so your
question around Head 9, the $500,000 for the co- ops,
where does that fit into the objectives on B -39? This
one is close to my heart. I am a big fan of collective
economics and I would argue that objective five, ensuring implementation of government reform priorities captures that objective. Maybe we get creative sometimes
to ensure that we implement the initiatives we campaigned on.
Going forward . . . what else do we have here?
I think there's one or two that I'm still awaiting responses on.
Mr. Chairman, if you would like to solicit any
additional questions there might be, I think we have 20
or 19 more minutes.
The Chairman Chairman
We don't necessarily have to use that 19 or 20 minutes. [Laughter] Sen. Mischa Fubler: Sure. After yesterday where we unfortunately ran a little bit short of time, based on the approach to delivering the questions, I am happy to accommodate. Maybe now is my colleague's chance to pontificate a …
The Chairman Chairman
I think Senator Cunningham does have a further question. Bermuda Senate Sen. Victoria Cunningham: I am not a pontificator. [Laughter] Sen. Victoria Cunningham: Although I could do because I am now about to talk about security. Sen. Mischa Fubler: Ah. Sen. Victoria Cunningham: So, page B -62 on IDT, I …
I think Senator Cunningham does have
a further question.
Bermuda Senate Sen. Victoria Cunningham: I am not a pontificator.
[Laughter]
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: Although I could do because I am now about to talk about security.
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Ah.
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: So, page B -62 on IDT, I
was not going to speak about the cyber incident, but I
am going to talk about security.
The original 2024/25 security budget of
$520 [,000] was reduced to $177[ ,000] , which is a
66 per cent cut . And now we are still seeing a decrease
at $347[ ,000] when . . . and so I'm asking, Why is that
when your first department objective is enhanced secu-rity measures? So, I just . . . since it's such an important
part of the department, I found that a little odd.
And just interestingly, and obviously you talked
about the apprenticeship programme and the vacant positions in like security analysts, systems analysts,
whatever, what qualifications or certifications would be
required for those security staff personnel? And how is
the Government ensuring that they can give the training
needed for those individuals, or are we going overseas?
Actually, [I have] another question for you, because you did mention the work permits and planning,
How many work permits are in the IDT department?
Given that it is like planning, there are some specialist roles and responsibilities, but how are we ensuring that
we're training Bermudians in these CISO roles?
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Okay, and so the first one around
security is a little bit on the asked- and-answered, . . . I
think, right? We have identified the Ministry of National Security as the primary spot for tracking and funding
the data security function. And as for the requirements
for the job roles, I encourage not just my colleagues
here, but everyone who may be interested in providing
public service and has the relevant skill set to take a
look at the Bermuda jobs board or the government employee posting for the specifics. And then I think also, without revisiting debate, I did provide a statement on
that apprentic eship initiative wherein the apprentices
will do kind of a round- robin through different departments, and the plan is to expand that programme to also accommodate the students completing the relevant certifications for the various roles.
But speaking from my kind of private work experience, it can be rather challenging to fill roles. We
have been trying to hire some software developers for
the team, and it has been something we have been
working on for the better part of the year actually —quite
a lot of interviews. There is significant demand in these
roles, you're right . But I think we are continuing the pursuit of filling them because they are essential and the recent uplifts in salary and increases in allocated headcount help in that reg ard.
a further question.
Bermuda Senate Sen. Victoria Cunningham: I am not a pontificator.
[Laughter]
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: Although I could do because I am now about to talk about security.
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Ah.
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: So, page B -62 on IDT, I
was not going to speak about the cyber incident, but I
am going to talk about security.
The original 2024/25 security budget of
$520 [,000] was reduced to $177[ ,000] , which is a
66 per cent cut . And now we are still seeing a decrease
at $347[ ,000] when . . . and so I'm asking, Why is that
when your first department objective is enhanced secu-rity measures? So, I just . . . since it's such an important
part of the department, I found that a little odd.
And just interestingly, and obviously you talked
about the apprenticeship programme and the vacant positions in like security analysts, systems analysts,
whatever, what qualifications or certifications would be
required for those security staff personnel? And how is
the Government ensuring that they can give the training
needed for those individuals, or are we going overseas?
Actually, [I have] another question for you, because you did mention the work permits and planning,
How many work permits are in the IDT department?
Given that it is like planning, there are some specialist roles and responsibilities, but how are we ensuring that
we're training Bermudians in these CISO roles?
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Okay, and so the first one around
security is a little bit on the asked- and-answered, . . . I
think, right? We have identified the Ministry of National Security as the primary spot for tracking and funding
the data security function. And as for the requirements
for the job roles, I encourage not just my colleagues
here, but everyone who may be interested in providing
public service and has the relevant skill set to take a
look at the Bermuda jobs board or the government employee posting for the specifics. And then I think also, without revisiting debate, I did provide a statement on
that apprentic eship initiative wherein the apprentices
will do kind of a round- robin through different departments, and the plan is to expand that programme to also accommodate the students completing the relevant certifications for the various roles.
But speaking from my kind of private work experience, it can be rather challenging to fill roles. We
have been trying to hire some software developers for
the team, and it has been something we have been
working on for the better part of the year actually —quite
a lot of interviews. There is significant demand in these
roles, you're right . But I think we are continuing the pursuit of filling them because they are essential and the recent uplifts in salary and increases in allocated headcount help in that reg ard.
The Chairman Chairman
Senator Cunningham, a further question? Sen. Victoria Cunningham: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Okay, so cybersecurity is now under National Security. Sen. Mischa Fubler: Correct. And then there are also several other initiatives that complement the security like replacing legacy equipment and upgrading firewalls as well as the enhanced focus on …
Senator Cunningham, a further question?
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Okay, so cybersecurity is now under National
Security.
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Correct. And then there are also
several other initiatives that complement the security
like replacing legacy equipment and upgrading firewalls
as well as the enhanced focus on end- user training because those in cybersecurity or information security will know the weakest link is alw ays the person in the chair,
not necessarily the computer.
At this time, if you are happy, I think I have a
couple more responses.
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: Mm-hmm.
Sen. Mischa Fubler: How many work permits are in
the IDT department? I would say . . . don't quote me on
this, but they are going to do that. As the technical officer says, they are unaware of anyone on a work permit. There is an entirely Bermudian team in IDT with the
full-time employees, which is commendable.
Sorry, I yield again. You were going to ask another question ?
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: Yes, I was talking about
cybersecurity coming now [under] National Security rather than IDT. But if there is another security breach,
then we still need the backup servers and off -site backups and disaster recovery systems and all the rest of it.
That still lies with IDT. Right?
Sen. Mischa Fubler: It is indeed a collaborative approach. The responsibility is a National Security initia-tive, but they are IT systems.
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: So that is where the—
Sen. Mischa Fubler: You saw the increase in headcount in that space as well.
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: Right, at the back of the
[Budget] B ook, page C -whatever it was. The acquisitions have . . . and that is where that is. So it is funding.
Okay.
Then, I think one of my final questions is the
last performance measure, page B -65 under Security,
business unit 53090, where it says conduct quarterly security awareness training . And we have a revised—
well, so I guess it is new this year —90 per cent target
and a target next year of 90 per cent. As you have just
said, the person behind the keyboard is the first line of
350 5 June 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda Senate defence. It is a Bermuda rumour that the hack may or
may not have occurred from someone opening a malicious link or attachment from an email. I think that that
number should be 100 [per cent]. I think everyone
should be subject to quarterly training.
Also, my second question to that is , What are
the ramifications for failing that training?
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Okay, and so quarterly security
awareness training —everyone completing it quarterly,
I think, again, taking off my —
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: Or maybe half -yearly .
Sen. Mischa Fubler: —government . . . no, it's quarterly. We are working in a regulated industry in finance,
and we are compelling users to complete the training quarterly to maintain our compliance.
But you know, sometimes somebody's on extended leave, or they're sick, or there is a critical project that causes them to complete it into the early days of the subsequent quarter, right?, like things happen. And
so, 90 per cent is an achievable goal, call back to the
S.M.A.R.T. goals that you have been calling for. And
so, yes, ideally, 100 per cent of the people will complete
the quarterly security access training.
I can endeavour to confirm the kind of methodology from my experience . It's typically reviewing some
kind of content on a website and the like, and so as long
as they are doing the quiz and watching the videos . . .
I think we are going to meet the metric there, and then
it gives an opportunity to exceed the goal.
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: And what about the ramifications if they fail it?
Sen. Mischa Fubler: That I will need to consult with
the technical officers on. That's more of an operational
question, though. Right? And so, I have no oversight over specifically that . Oh, yes, I have a response. You
are locked out of the system if you do not complete your training . There you go. So, they cannot present the risk.
And then also, I don’t want to [raise a] point of
order (that feels a little too combative in this case) , but
we do not deal in rumour here in the Senate. And so, I
will not make comment on that.
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: Fair enough. We will wait
for that long- awaited report.
Mr. Chairman, that ends my questions.
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Okay, so cybersecurity is now under National
Security.
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Correct. And then there are also
several other initiatives that complement the security
like replacing legacy equipment and upgrading firewalls
as well as the enhanced focus on end- user training because those in cybersecurity or information security will know the weakest link is alw ays the person in the chair,
not necessarily the computer.
At this time, if you are happy, I think I have a
couple more responses.
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: Mm-hmm.
Sen. Mischa Fubler: How many work permits are in
the IDT department? I would say . . . don't quote me on
this, but they are going to do that. As the technical officer says, they are unaware of anyone on a work permit. There is an entirely Bermudian team in IDT with the
full-time employees, which is commendable.
Sorry, I yield again. You were going to ask another question ?
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: Yes, I was talking about
cybersecurity coming now [under] National Security rather than IDT. But if there is another security breach,
then we still need the backup servers and off -site backups and disaster recovery systems and all the rest of it.
That still lies with IDT. Right?
Sen. Mischa Fubler: It is indeed a collaborative approach. The responsibility is a National Security initia-tive, but they are IT systems.
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: So that is where the—
Sen. Mischa Fubler: You saw the increase in headcount in that space as well.
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: Right, at the back of the
[Budget] B ook, page C -whatever it was. The acquisitions have . . . and that is where that is. So it is funding.
Okay.
Then, I think one of my final questions is the
last performance measure, page B -65 under Security,
business unit 53090, where it says conduct quarterly security awareness training . And we have a revised—
well, so I guess it is new this year —90 per cent target
and a target next year of 90 per cent. As you have just
said, the person behind the keyboard is the first line of
350 5 June 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda Senate defence. It is a Bermuda rumour that the hack may or
may not have occurred from someone opening a malicious link or attachment from an email. I think that that
number should be 100 [per cent]. I think everyone
should be subject to quarterly training.
Also, my second question to that is , What are
the ramifications for failing that training?
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Okay, and so quarterly security
awareness training —everyone completing it quarterly,
I think, again, taking off my —
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: Or maybe half -yearly .
Sen. Mischa Fubler: —government . . . no, it's quarterly. We are working in a regulated industry in finance,
and we are compelling users to complete the training quarterly to maintain our compliance.
But you know, sometimes somebody's on extended leave, or they're sick, or there is a critical project that causes them to complete it into the early days of the subsequent quarter, right?, like things happen. And
so, 90 per cent is an achievable goal, call back to the
S.M.A.R.T. goals that you have been calling for. And
so, yes, ideally, 100 per cent of the people will complete
the quarterly security access training.
I can endeavour to confirm the kind of methodology from my experience . It's typically reviewing some
kind of content on a website and the like, and so as long
as they are doing the quiz and watching the videos . . .
I think we are going to meet the metric there, and then
it gives an opportunity to exceed the goal.
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: And what about the ramifications if they fail it?
Sen. Mischa Fubler: That I will need to consult with
the technical officers on. That's more of an operational
question, though. Right? And so, I have no oversight over specifically that . Oh, yes, I have a response. You
are locked out of the system if you do not complete your training . There you go. So, they cannot present the risk.
And then also, I don’t want to [raise a] point of
order (that feels a little too combative in this case) , but
we do not deal in rumour here in the Senate. And so, I
will not make comment on that.
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: Fair enough. We will wait
for that long- awaited report.
Mr. Chairman, that ends my questions.
The Chairman Chairman
Thank you, Senator Cunningham. This seems like a good time to ask Senator Fubler to move the heads. But first of all, I just want to thank him very much for his brief presentation. And also thank you very much for allowing so much time for Sen-ators to ask their …
Thank you, Senator Cunningham.
This seems like a good time to ask Senator
Fubler to move the heads. But first of all, I just want to thank him very much for his brief presentation. And also
thank you very much for allowing so much time for Sen-ators to ask their questions. This has , I think, for everybody in this room, and for the listening audience, been a very, very useful session. So, thank you very much
for that.
Now I'm going to ask you to move the heads.
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Sure thing, Mr. Chai rman.
I move that Heads 9, 32, and 43 be approved
as printed.
This seems like a good time to ask Senator
Fubler to move the heads. But first of all, I just want to thank him very much for his brief presentation. And also
thank you very much for allowing so much time for Sen-ators to ask their questions. This has , I think, for everybody in this room, and for the listening audience, been a very, very useful session. So, thank you very much
for that.
Now I'm going to ask you to move the heads.
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Sure thing, Mr. Chai rman.
I move that Heads 9, 32, and 43 be approved
as printed.
The Chairman Chairman
Thank you, Senator Fubler. Is there any objection to the moving of those three heads? Hearing none, we can agree to move them. Thank you. [Motion carried: The Cabinet Office and Digital Innovation, Heads 9, 32, and 43 were approved and stand part of the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure …
Thank you, Senator Fubler.
Is there any objection to the moving of those
three heads?
Hearing none, we can agree to move them.
Thank you.
[Motion carried: The Cabinet Office and Digital Innovation, Heads 9, 32, and 43 were approved and stand part of the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for the year 2025/26.]
[Crosstalk]
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Okay, Mr. Chairman,
that concludes the debate as it pertains to the scheduled heads. I now move that the following heads be approved as printed.
• Non- Ministry Department s—Heads 1, 2, 5, 56,
63, 85, 92, 98, and 101;
• Cabinet Office and Digital Innovation—Heads
13, 18, 51, 61 and 80;
• Ministry of Justice —Heads 4 and 75;
• Ministry of Finance—Heads 12, 28, 39 and 49;
• Ministry of Education—Head 41;
• Ministry of Economy and Labour —Heads 29
and 94;
• Ministry of Public Works and Environment —
Heads 36, 68, 79, 81 and 82;
• Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport —Heads
48 and 52;
• Ministry of National Security —Heads 6, 1 2 and
45; and
• Ministry of Housing and Municipalities —Heads
90 and 53.
Is there any objection to the moving of those
three heads?
Hearing none, we can agree to move them.
Thank you.
[Motion carried: The Cabinet Office and Digital Innovation, Heads 9, 32, and 43 were approved and stand part of the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for the year 2025/26.]
[Crosstalk]
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Okay, Mr. Chairman,
that concludes the debate as it pertains to the scheduled heads. I now move that the following heads be approved as printed.
• Non- Ministry Department s—Heads 1, 2, 5, 56,
63, 85, 92, 98, and 101;
• Cabinet Office and Digital Innovation—Heads
13, 18, 51, 61 and 80;
• Ministry of Justice —Heads 4 and 75;
• Ministry of Finance—Heads 12, 28, 39 and 49;
• Ministry of Education—Head 41;
• Ministry of Economy and Labour —Heads 29
and 94;
• Ministry of Public Works and Environment —
Heads 36, 68, 79, 81 and 82;
• Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport —Heads
48 and 52;
• Ministry of National Security —Heads 6, 1 2 and
45; and
• Ministry of Housing and Municipalities —Heads
90 and 53.
The Chairman Chairman
Thank you, Minister . Is there any objection to the moving of those heads? No objection. So those heads are now moved. Thank you, Minister Crystal Caesar. Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Thank you. I have a bit more.
The Chairman Chairman
More — [Laughter]
The Chairman Chairman
I’m sorry. Bermuda Senate Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Mr. Chairman, I move that the Capital Account Estimates be approved and stand as part of the Bill. I move that c lauses 1 through 6 of the Bill together with Schedules A t hrough C, inclusive, be approved and stand …
I’m sorry.
Bermuda Senate Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Mr. Chairman, I move
that the Capital Account Estimates be approved and
stand as part of the Bill.
I move that c lauses 1 through 6 of the Bill together with Schedules A t hrough C, inclusive, be approved and stand as part of the Bill.
I move that the preamble be approved.
I move that the title stand as part of the Bill.
I move that the Report of the Committee on the
Bill entitled the Appropriation Act 2025 be adopted by
the Senate.
Bermuda Senate Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Mr. Chairman, I move
that the Capital Account Estimates be approved and
stand as part of the Bill.
I move that c lauses 1 through 6 of the Bill together with Schedules A t hrough C, inclusive, be approved and stand as part of the Bill.
I move that the preamble be approved.
I move that the title stand as part of the Bill.
I move that the Report of the Committee on the
Bill entitled the Appropriation Act 2025 be adopted by
the Senate.
The Chairman Chairman
Thank you, Minister. Is there any objection to the movement of those items that she just referenced? Hearing none, we can consider those moved. Thank you, Minister Caesar . [Motion carried: The Appropriation Act 2025 , along with the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for the financial year 2025 /26 …
Thank you, Minister.
Is there any objection to the movement of those
items that she just referenced?
Hearing none, we can consider those moved.
Thank you, Minister Caesar .
[Motion carried: The Appropriation Act 2025 , along with
the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for the financial year 2025 /26 were considered by a Committee
of the whole Senate and passed without amendment.]
Is there any objection to the movement of those
items that she just referenced?
Hearing none, we can consider those moved.
Thank you, Minister Caesar .
[Motion carried: The Appropriation Act 2025 , along with
the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for the financial year 2025 /26 were considered by a Committee
of the whole Senate and passed without amendment.]
The Chairman Chairman
So, we can let out of C ommittee now. And for the last time this week, the seat goes back to Madam President. Thank you all. [Pause] Senate resumed at 7:00 pm [Sen. the Hon. Joan E. Dillas -Wright, President, presiding] REPORT OF COMMITTEE APPROPRIATION ACT 202 5 ESTIMATES OF …
So, we can let out of C ommittee now.
And for the last time this week, the seat goes back to
Madam President. Thank you all.
[Pause]
Senate resumed at 7:00 pm
[Sen. the Hon. Joan E. Dillas -Wright, President, presiding]
REPORT OF COMMITTEE
APPROPRIATION ACT 202 5
ESTIMATES OF REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE
FOR THE YEAR 202 5/26
The President: Senators, t he Report of the C ommittee
has been received. And do you give approval for it to
be adopted?
Yes. Good. So, the report has been adopted.
And I would like to take this opportunity to
thank Vice President John Wight and Senator Tawana
Tannock for chairing the C ommittees, the Appropriation
Act this week. You have both done a stellar job. And I
also thank all Senators who have participated. I think
it's been a very busy week, but it's been a very effective
week. So, thank you all for that.
We will now move on then with the rest of the
agenda. I will just . . .
[Crosstalk]
The President: I thought you did this . . . we did not do
it?
[Pause and crosstalk ]
The President: We need to do the third reading and
pass.
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Thank you, Madam
President .
I move that the Bill be now read the third time.
The President: Is there any objection to the third reading?
No objection.
BILL
THIRD READING
APPROPRIATION ACT 202 5
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: I move that the Bill entitled the Appropriation Act 2025 do now pass.
The President: Is there any objection to the passing of
the Bill ?
No objection. The Bill has passed.
[Motion carried: The Appropriation Act 2025 was read
a third time and passed.]
The President: Thank you very much, Minister Crystal
Caesar, spokesperson for Finance [in the Senate]. You
have done a very good job today.
So, Senators, we will move on then with our
agenda. We have other Bills to consider. Item No. 2 on
our Orders of the Day is consideration of the Government Fees Amendment Regulations 2025.
And that is in the name of Senator the Honourable Crystal Caesar , spokesperson for F inance [in the
Senate] . So, you have—
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Thank you, Madam
President.
Madam President, I move that the Senate do
take under consideration the Government Fees
Amendment Regulations 2025 proposed to be made by
the Minister of Finance in exercise of the power conferred by section 2 of the Government Fees Act 1965.
The President: Is there any objection to that motion?
No objection.
DRAFT REGULATIONS
GOVERNMENT FEES AMENDMENT
REGULATIONS 2025
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Thank you, Madam
President.
352 5 June 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda Senate Madam President, in the P re-Budget Report tabled in another place in December, a number of tax reductions were outlined that were under consideration to
ease the tax burden faced by residents and busi-nesses. This Government has a history of ensuring that
better fiscal performance results in meaningful relief for
taxpayers.
Madam President, I now bring to this H onourable [Senate] one of the fee reductions promised within
the Pre-Budget Report and the 2025 Budget Statement. Madam President, as stated in the 2025 B udget
Statement, access to communication is essential for
work, for education, for staying connected with loved
ones. T o ease the financial burden of mobile services,
the Government will reduce the monthly fee on mobile
phones by 50 per cent from $12 to $6. This measure
will result in immediate savings for every mobile customer and is a part of our commitment to lowering the
cost of essential services. This tax reduction will take
effect from 1 July 2 025 and is expected to reduce revenue by $2 million .
Madam President, the following fee within
these regulations will be amended within the existing
head in the revised 2025 F ee Schedule as follows :
• Head 76 (Telecommunications Act 1986), provisions section 1(e)(iv).
Thank you, Madam President.
The President: Thank you, Minister Caesar.
Would any Senator care to speak on th ese
Regulations?
No. Hearing none. It's over to you, Minister.
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Sorry , give me a second, Madam President.
[Crosstalk]
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: I move that [Standing
Order] 26 be—
[Pause and c rosstalk]
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Madam President, I
move that the said draft R egulations be approved and
that the following message be sent to H is Excellency
the Governor.
“May it please Y our Excellency, the Senate
having had under consideration the draft R egulations
entitled the G overnment Fees Amendment Regulations
2025 proposed to be made by the Minister of Finance
in exercise of the power conferred by section 2 of the
Government Fees Act 1965 has the honour to inform
Your Excellency that the S enate has approved the said
draft Regulations. ”
The President: Senators, do you give your approval?
Yes. Thank you. A suitable message will be
sent. [Motion carried: The Government Fees Amendment
Regulations 2025 were approved.]
The President: That takes care of Item No. 2 on our
Orders of the D ay. Item No. 3 we did earlier , yes.
So, we move on to Item No. 4 which is the second reading of the L and Tax Amendment Act 2025 and
that is in the name of Senator the Honourable Crystal
Caesar, s pokesperson for F inance [in the Senate].
Senator . . . Minister Caesar you can have the
floor when you are ready.
BILL
SECOND READING
LAND TAX AMENDMENT ACT 2025
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Madam President, today I am presenting to this H onourable Chamber the
Land Tax Amendment Act 2025. This B ill will amend
the Land Tax Act 1967 by decreasing the base rate of
land tax for residential units.
Madam President, as the Honourable Premier
and Finance Minister stated in the budget speech, Bermuda's land tax is a significant revenue earner for the Government but can also represent a burden for homeowners and renters alike.
In 2019, a new base rate was introduced and
set at $300 a year. Given the Island's fiscal progress,
more relief can be provided. The Government will reduce the base rate of land tax from $300 per year to $150. This reduction will apply to all homeowners and
renters who pay land tax.
Madam President, as Senators in this Honourable Chamber are aware, annual land tax is managed
in two periods from 1 July to 31 December , and 1 January to 30 June each year. The proposed change to the
land tax base rate will go into effect as of 1 January
2026. This ensures that the O ffice of the T ax Commissioner has sufficient time to make the necessary adjust-ments to billing amounts and notices to be provided to the impacted homeowners.
Madam President, we hear the cries from our
people who are finding it difficult to navigate our economic landscape and offer assistance as we can. This
reduction will assist homeowners and renters.
I will also add, Madam President, that the majority of the workforce, which we can safely assume
also includes a number of homeowners, have seen their taxes decrease in prior fiscal years. Having done
this and achieved balance, we believe that this is the
right time to provide this relief.
Thank you, Madam President.
The President: Thank you, Minister.
Would any Senator care to speak on this Bill?
Sen. Marcus Jones: Thank you, Madam President.
Bermuda Senate The President: Marcus Jones, Opposition Leader in
the Senate, you have the floor.
Sen. Marcus Jones: Thank you, Madam President,
and thank you, Minister of Education, s pokesman for
Finance Caesar. We do support this Land Tax Amendment Act for 2025. Any way that we can find relief for
our fellow citizens in times of hardship and cost of living
being at the status that it is in right now, we would agree
and concur that this amendment pass.
Thank you, Madam President.
The President: And thank you. Would any other Senator care to speak on this Bill?
Hearing none, then Minister C aesar, you have
full support.
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Madam President, I
move that the B ill entitled the Land Tax Amendment Act
2025 be now read a second time.
The President: Is there any objection to that motion?
No objection.
SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDER 26
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Madam President, I
move that [Standing Order] 26 be suspended in respect
of this Bill.
The President: Is there any objection to that motion?
No objection.
[Motion carried: Standing Order 26 suspended.]
BILL
THIRD READING
LAND TAX AMENDMENT ACT 2025
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Madam President, I
move that the B ill entitled the Land Tax Amendment Act
2025 be now read a third time.
The President: Is there any objection to the third reading?
No objection.
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Madam President, I
move that the Bill do now pass.
The President: Is there any objection to the passage
of the Bi ll?
The Bill is passed.
Thank you, Minister C aesar.
[Motion carried: The Land Tax Amendment Act 2025 was read a third time and passed.] The President: Senators, we will now move on to Item
No. 5 on our Orders of the Day, and that is the second
reading of the Payroll Tax Amendment Act 2025. And
that is also in the name of the Honourable Crystal C aesar, Minister and s pokesperson for Finance [in the Senate].
BILL
SECOND READING
PAYROLL TAX AMENDMENT ACT 2025
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Thank you, Madam
President.
I am pleased to present to this Honourable
House the Payroll Tax Amendment Act 2025 . This Bill
will make amendments to both the Payroll Tax Act 1995
and the Payroll Tax Rates Act 1995.
Madam President, the effect of these amendments is to exempt the employee portion of payroll tax
on payments made to employees on account of redundancy or otherwise in connection with the permanent
termination of employment.
Madam President, this Bill represents our commitment to supporting employees during the uncer-tainty that comes with job losses. By providing payroll tax relief on redundancy and like payments, it ensures
that more money stays in the hands of those affected.
This Government is committed to providing relief and
assistance to the people who need it most.
Madam President, the f irst amendment will establish a special provision in the Payroll Tax Act for remuneration paid to an employee in connection with the permanent termination of employment on account of
redundancy or otherwise. Under the current legislation, such payments would be subject to payroll tax on both
the employer and employee portions for up to three
years following termination. This amendment will now
exempt those payments from the employee standard rate bands, thereby providing meaningful rel ief to the
employee during a critical period of transition.
Madam President, the Second Amendment
pertains to the Payroll Tax Rates Act 1995, which cur-rently outlines tax based on employee rate bands. This
amendment introduces a significant change in prescribing a zero percent rate on the employee portion of payroll tax for remuneration paid in connection with the permanent termination of employment.
Madam President, in conclusion, I wish to reaffirm that this government remains steadfast in its commitment to listening to the people. We continue to act
with fiscal responsibility and sound governance while delivering meaningful relief where it is most n eeded.
Thank you, Madam President.
The President: Thank you, Minister.
354 5 June 202 5 Official Hansard Report
B ermuda Senate ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT
SENATE VISITOR
The President: Before I present it to the Senators, I
would just like to acknowledge and to welcome [the
Honourable] Minister Diallo Rabain , the Minister for the
Cabinet Office and Digital Innovation.
Welcome you, sir.
[
Second reading debate, continuing]
The President: Would any Senator care to speak on
this Bill?
Sen. Marcus Jones: Yes, Madam President.
The President: Senator Marcus Jones, you have the
floor.
Sen. Marcus Jones: Thank you, Madam President.
The Opposition . . . we definitely support this
amendment to the payroll tax. This is an example of a
targeted tax break that makes sense, and so we support it.
Thank you, Madam President.
The President: Thank you, Senator Marcus Jones.
Senator Cunningham, I see you. You have the
floor.
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: Thank you. I do have one
question, as this actually, unfortunately, related to me a few years ago.
But while you have got the government statutory amount for redundancy pay, some companies will pay over that. So, I'm just wanting to make sure that
this Bill would still reflect any redundancy pay and
whether or not employers might add final leaving bo-nuses and things like that. It's just a case of how it
would all kind of work out.
2And my second, I guess, supplemental to that
would be, would it apply to (what I have never had) a
golden handshake or an executive severance package? And is there going to be a cap or a threshold on
the maximum amount that you would be exempt from
payroll tax? Thank you, Madam President.
The President: Thank you, Senator Cunningham.
[
Pause]
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: I would like to answer
the second question first, if you do not mind, Madam
President.
The President: Not at all.
2 See Point of Clarification on page 360 Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: The legislation actually
does speak to . . . I am sorry, a tax on the statutory
amount and does not speak to amounts over that. But we are just seeking . . . if you could just ask your first
question again, please.
We are just seeking clarification.
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: So my first question is, as
I understand it, currently the redundancy pay, statutory is two weeks per year, up to 26 weeks, I think. So if the employer making the employee redundant ends up do-ing three weeks per year, or there being no maximum,
they have worked somewhere for 30 years, they just
keep going, would the tax be on top of that statutory? And I think you have kind of just answered it.
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Yes, yes.
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: Would there be . . . would
that extra week be payroll taxed and two weeks that are statutory be not?
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Right. So yes, I think
the answer to the previous question would also inform the answer to this.
The statutory amount obviously must be complied with. And if an employer, you know, wanted to be that much more gracious, then that is not necessarily subject to the tax.
And I believe that's it.
The President: Yes. Thank you.
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Madam President, I
move that the Bill entitled Payroll Tax Amendment Act
2025 be now read a second time.
The President: Is there any objection to the second
reading?
No objection.
SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDER 26
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Madam President, I
move that [Standing Order ] 26 be suspended in respect
of this Bill.
The President: Is there any objection to that motion?
No objection.
[
Motion carried: Standing Order 26 suspended.]
BILL
THIRD READING
B ermuda Senate PAYROLL TAX AMENDMENT ACT 2025
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Madam President, I
move that the Bill entitled the Payroll Tax Amendment
Act 2025 be now read a third time.
The President: Is there any objection to the third reading?
No objection.
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Madam President, I
move that the Bill do now pass.
The President: Is there any objection to the passage
of the Bill?
No objection. The Bill is passed. Thank you, Minister and thank you, Senators.
[
Motion carried: The Payroll Tax Amendment Act 2025
was read a third time and passed.]
The President: We will now move on to Item No. 6 on
our Orders of the Day. And that is the motion to be
moved by Senator Mischa G . Fubler, the Junior Minister for the Cabinet Office and Digital Innovation.
Senator Fubler, you have the floor.
MOTION
CITY OF HAMILTON PLAN 2025
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Thank you, Madam President.
I move that the Senate do now take under consideration the following motion:
BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate approves
the City of Hamilton Plan 2025, pursuant to the provisions of section 11 of the Development and Planning
Act 1974.
The President: Is there any objection to that motion?
No objection.
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Madam President, we are at a
turning point and the way we think about , plan for and
build the future of Bermuda's capital. I rise today to move in accordance with section 11 of the D evelopment and Planning Act 1974 that this H onourable
Chamber consider and approve the City of Hamilton
Plan 2025 , a modern and ambitious planning framework designed to transform our city into a place that is not only functional, but also vibrant, people centred and
economically resilient.
Madam President, this Plan has undergone a
robust consultation process and builds on the successful implementation of the N orth E ast Hamilton Local
Plan 2022. It reflects a new way of thinking that embraces flexibility, sustainability and strategic investment. This Plan represents a shift from outdated prescriptive planning policies, propelling us boldly into a more sustainable, adaptable and human centred approach to urban development.
Let us begin with what has rightly been the
most discussed element : building heights in the city of
Hamilton. There is no question this is the elephant in the room. The C ity of Hamilton Plan 2025 removes the
rigid numerical height cap formerly tied to the cathedral at 138 feet OD ( ordinance datum) and introduces in its
place a merit -based design led framework. This has led
some to ask, Well, does this mean that someone can
build a 30- storey tower with no oversight ? Or, What is
the maximum building height in the city once the City
Plan 2025 comes into effect?
Madam President, the absence of a fixed number does not imply a lack of control. It signifies that con-trol is now linked to context, design quality and public benefit rather than a uniform rule that treats every site identically. Under this new framework, any building,
whether it is 10- , 15-, 25- or more storeys must earn its
place on the skyline. This means undergoing a visual impact assessment, submitting a robust design state-ment, proving it adds value to the public realm, walka-bility and the urban context.
The P lan introduces a responsive discretionbased framework. Height will be assessed based on location , design quality, context and the proposal ’s overall contribution to the city. Proposals for tall buildings will not be automatically rejected, nor will they receive rubber stamp approval. They must justify their height.
This is not deregulation. It is better regulation.
Madam President, the height limit based on the
cathedral served its purpose at one time. However, in
the 21st century, in a city where the economic centre is
shifting, housing is urgently needed, and inward investment must be attracted. Freezing the skyline to protect
a single landmark is no longer practical or sustainable.
Our ambition is to build up and build well. This Plan
makes that possible.
Madam President, let us not reduce the Plan to
just height. It is about much more. This Plan reflects a
profound strategic rethinking of how a modern capital
city should function. The former 2015 Plan, while valuable in its time, was based on a conventional rigid zon-ing approach that separated uses, fixed parameters and often resulted in delays, appeals and frustration among investors and developers.
Madam President, the City of Hamilton Plan
2025 is not just a technical document , it is a vision
statement for what our capital city can become. It re-flects a shift in how we think about urban life, not merely in terms of buildings and roads, but in terms of people, experience and purpose. It envisions Hamilton as a living city, one where housing is accessible, culture and
commerce thrive side by side, streets come alive after 5:00 pm and public spaces foster community, creativity
and care.
At its core, this P lan delivers some key priorities. It is about placemaking, ensuring that Hamilton becomes a place where people want to spend time, not
356 5 June 202 5 Official Hansard Report
B ermuda Senate just pass through. It is about housing, making the city
not only a workplace but a vibrant neighbourhood with diverse residential opportunities.
It is about design, encouraging high- quality architecture that respects heritage but is not bound by replication. It is about sustainability, not just mitigating
our impact on climate change but adapting to it through
better materials, more innovative infrastructure and cli-mate- conscious design. And crucially, it is about reform, aligning our planning goals with the streamlining of permits, processes and timelines to make good de-velopment easier to deliver.
Madam President, the City of Hamilton Plan
2025 is not solely focused on what is constructed but also on how swiftly, effectively and equitably we facili-tate its implementation. It is in line with the G overnment's broader commitment to modernising public ser-vices and unlocking private sector potential through
more intelligent and responsive governance.
As a result, this P lan will deliver :
•fewer unnecessary planning appeals asclearer policy guidance and earlier engagement reduce ambiguity ;
•shorter decision timelines supported by pre-consultation;
•clearer criteria and ongoing reforms to the approvals process ;
•greater scope for investment opportunities asunderused sites and restrictive zoning rules
are replaced with strategic direction and designflexibility ;
and
•a mor
e agile and responsive urban development system capable of adapting to the chang-ing needs of Hamilton and Bermuda morebroadly.
Madam President, we heard during the House
debate— or in another place—and likely will hear again
today several valid questions. Allow me to address just
a few particularly relevant ones.
On parking in the retail core. T he Plan prioritises pedestrians to support retail recovery. This is a deliberate choice grounded in global urban best practice. Retail requires foot traffic, not congestion.
On heritage. T here are fewer than 10 listed
buildings in the city. The P lan endorses innovative design that respects the context rather than attempting to freeze time.
On investor confidence. W ith the introduction
of guidance notes, pre- consultation tools and improved
communication, developers will have greater clarity from the outset, making the city not only more appeal-ing for development but also easier to navigate.
Madam President, what we are approving today is not a panacea. It will not on its own fill every va-cant lot, repair ageing infrastructure or eliminate eco-nomic risk, but what it will do is unlock the potential for Hamilton to grow intelligently, sustainably and ambi-tiously. It provides us with the policy tools, the clarity,
and the momentum to pursue a bold new direction for
our capital. Let us adopt this P lan not because we want
to build higher, but because we want to build smarter. Not for change's sake, but because standing still is no longer an option. Not just to enable development, but
to reimagine Hamilton as a city where people live, thrive and belong. Let this be the moment where Hamilton be-gins to rise, with purpose, with vision and with unity.
Thank you, Madam President.
The President: Thank you, Senator Mis cha F ubler ,
Junior Minister for the Cabinet Office and Digital Inno-vation.
Would any S enator care to speak on this motion?
Senator Tannock , you have the floor.
Sen. Tawana Tannock: Yes, thank you, Madam President.
I find myself in the unpleasant task of criticising
something that both parties have unanimously sup-ported, but when I read the Plan, I do have some grave
concerns. Those come from, I guess, both facets of my background—m y Human Rights Commission hat, but
also my international business hat.
When I look at the stakeholders that were consulted, nowhere did I see any Human Rights Commis-sion or the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Seniors, and
nowhere did I see any of the international business organisations like ABIR and ABIC.
The reason why this is important to me is that
Bermuda, especially from Hamilton Princess right up to the middle of Front Street, is known as colloquially “ the
billion dollar square mile” because that's where the
businesses are located that bring in such a large por-tion of our income, our GDP.
I guess my first question is, What has been the
response from the international business stakeholders to this redevelopment of the land? Do they have any
concerns about access, about pedestrianising the
land? I just would like to know if that has been factored in and what's been the res ponse.
The second is with regard to disability. We
know we have talked about pedestrianising it, but let's
just be frank and honest, right? Not everybody can walk
the way that we walk, so when we talk about making
sure that we have pedestrian lanes, are we also making sure that there is a clear way for disability vans for peo-ple who have disabilities to come in, that there is access? I haven't seen a study or impact on those people
with disabilities and the way that this will be accessible
and enhance their experi ence.
And then the third is a subsequent [question] .
If we are expecting people to become pedestrians, I
would assume . . . and I know the parking issue is . . .
you said that will be addressed, but I've also seen in the literature that the intent is almost to make it more walk -
to-work or more walkable. So how are we
B ermuda Senate accommodating for that with our public transportation
schedules? Will there be more ferries to and from the City of Hamilton? Will there be more buses to and from the City of Hamilton? If we are expecting people to
amend the way that they move . . . they are mobile, how
are we supporting that with subsequent amendments?
And, you know, I listened to the House debate
and I heard MP Swan talk about Marsh Folly being able
to be the new Central Park, and all of a sudden I ha d
flashbacks to 1983 and I was at West Pembroke School and we were told that the dump was going to be this fantastic, fantastic centre of urban greenery . Right? So ,
I felt like saying, H aven't we been here before?
So those are my concerns. And like I said, I
don't like to be a naysayer because everybody else is patting each other on the back saying this is fantastic, but I do have grave concerns in those areas.
The President: Thank you, Senator Tannock .
Would any other S enator care to speak on the
motion?
Do you have a response?
Sen. Mischa Fubler: I do. And so, to Senator Tannock’s first question around engaging with stakeholders, we conducted substantial public consultation and the Plan was given an opportunity for any interested
party to make comments. I actually recall joining one of the live streams that they held with some of the technical staff from the P lanning Department, and I hope
that some of the agencies that you referenced, especially around human rights, were engaging in that con-sultation. Many key stakeholders were also consulted
directly.
And while I await some specificity around who
those key stakeholders were, around the pedestriani-sation, this is the P lan. It's not the city changing the current layout. It would be for new development or renovation. All new development is required to include acces-sible design. This is further reinforced through the
building code after planning approval is granted, and
the building permit is issued . . . or being considered.
And I think we will need to . . . okay, so changing hats here from the Cabinet Office to the Ministry of Tourism, Transport, Culture, and Sport, I think there is a concerted effort to enhance the public transit. We
highlighted during the debate on Wednesday around
the addition of two new ferries added to the fleet and the intention of retiring older public transit vehicles so that we increase the reliability and enhance that public service, specifically around the transport.
And I guess to answer the question, the comment around the Central Park and the dump . . .
[
Laughter]
Sen. Mischa Fubler: It was at one point. It's no longer
that, right? And so I am unfortunately unable to give
comment to that in this debate because it's outside of the city limits and not within the remit of this Plan. But I will say that around parking specifically and accessibil-ity, I was reading through the P lan and it made this assertion around there i s surplus parking. I said, But
where? And so then I have to . . . but there is some.
And I read the . . . let me pull it up here, I have it in my
notes. The City of Hamilton Plan Survey, and they did some rather extensive estimation. They called it “estimation” because they didn't go down and count every
spot, but they leveraged both planning records and Google imagery from 2021. And there are 1,755 private
on-site, non-residential parking spaces within the limits
of the City of Hamilton and a further 1,818 public off -
street car parking spaces, which are available. That's quite a lot, right?
There are 3,573 public and private non- residential car parking spaces within the city and then a further 366 just along the city boundary, including
places like Woodlands Parking Lot, BAA, the Tennis
Stadium and Dutton Ave. And so, I think the parking conc erns should be allayed in that regard. And I don't
know how many of you utilise the Bull ’s Head parking
lot. I work in that area. And unless I'm very late, even
when I am rather late, I can still find significant parking
on the top floor, which I do try to avoid to stay out of the
sun. But the salient point being that I think the parking
is handled.
I do take your point around the accessibility.
And so we do have a number of handicapped parking
spaces. And I do note sometimes I see consternation
on social media from folks who are not disabled saying
that there's too many of them. But I think I would kind
of agree with you as well. And so I'm glad to see in the responses that there is consideration made to all plan-ning proposals to ensure that the new development has
accessible design. And accessibility within the public
realm falls within the remit of the Corporation of Hamilton. And the P lan fully supports inclusive design. Comprehensive studies of parking need will be required, which will include accessible parking.
With this kind of shift in behaviour and the impact on the city, again, I did some additional research because we were originally going to debate this on Tuesday. And you look at cities like Barcelona, and they did a significant change where they drastically reduced the ability or the ease of driving your vehicle
through the city. And they saw significant revitalisation
in the city. And there are many other instances. And so
given kind of our ageing population and challenges with health, we may need to adjust somewhat there. But I
think encouraging walkability in the city will be net pos-itive, even with having to consider the accessible design for those of us who are less mobile.
I have some more responses from the technical officers around consultation. And so just to name
a few of the key stakeholders, they included the Cham-ber of Commerce, the Corporation of Hamilton, all gov-ernment stakeholders, the Institute of Bermuda Architects, some non- governmental organisations as well.
358 5 June 202 5 Official Hansard Report
B ermuda Senate They had several Facebook Live sessions. I alluded to
one that I joined because, for the benefit of the listening
public , my undergraduate degree is in urban studies,
which is a combination of city planning and sociology.
So learning about how cities have developed over time and kind of some guiding principles or best practi ces
for developing vibrant and sustainable cities. And so I was rather excited to see this is the direction of travel that the city is moving into.
From the technical officers who developed the
brief and the Plan, unfortunately, the concerns around
the transport regarding pedestrianisation is outside of
their remit. But as I briefly mentioned, the Department
of Public Transportation and Marine and Ports are both
in this budget , even allocating funding to enhance the
public transportation service as well.
And so hopefully I have answered your questions, but please let me know if you have any supplementaries.
Sen. Tawana Tannock: I do have a supplementary
question. So the first is regarding parking spaces. So
you mentioned that cumulatively there are about 3,500.
Was that your estimation, something like that?
Sen. Mischa Fubler: That is the Planning Department's estimation. They did a survey in the lead up to developing the plan, the City Survey Report from January 2024. And with the leave of Madam President, I
can read in a section from page 216.
Sen. Tawana Tannock: Well, I actually have a . . . so
I guess my follow -up is that number means nothing to
me because I don't know how many cars require parking. I don't know how many cars come into the city
every day. I don't know if that's a sufficient number or if
it's too little or too low. I wanted if you had that information, how many vehicles that require parking come into the C ity of Hamilton every day?
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Sure. Madam President, not for
us to get hung up specifically on the parking, maybe my diversion into that space was not the right approach. But I will also note in the C ity of Hamilton P lan that the
limitations on parking there speak to requiring any new parking on site to conform with the kind of strategic direction that the city takes for parking.
They are looking to have a strategic approach
to how we design new parking. And when you look at
the vibrant cities internationally, a significant proportion of the people that live there, they don't even own a car. You look at New York City and they had a subset, the
commuters basically saying, hey, we shouldn't have
congestion pricing.
But the people that live in New York, they don't
mind, they use transit, they walk around and we a re
looking to have significantly more people living in the city. That's part of the reason why the plan removes that
cap on the building height to try and encourage more people living and working in the city. And I think that the
right approach as to the number that's needed, I guess, need is of course subjective. Does everybody need to
drive into the city? I would argue no. And I think it will be easier for people to avail themselves of the public transportation as we continue to enhance that service
as well.
The President: Senator Fubler —
Sen. Tawana Tannock: Sorry. And I just did have one
supplementary question with regard to the consultation of stakeholders.
Your response was that you are not sure if the
international business community participated in those
consultations and you are also not sure whether or not the Office of Disability or S eniors or the Human Rights
Commission participated in those consultations.
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Correct. I personally am not, but
I am consulting with the technical officers who con-ducted the consultations. And to use their words that outside of those key stakeholders that I enumerated
specifically, they say, The list goes on“! ” (exclamation
point ). So, I assume that several other groups were
consulted. The ABIR and ABIC are arguably also represented by the Chamber of Commerce, I would hope.
Sen. Tawana Tannock: No, they are not. I am the deputy chairperson of ABIC.
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Oh, okay.
Sen. Tawana Tannock: So I can tell you we are not
represented by the Chamber of Commerce.
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Okay, I a m sorry for that. And so
I do not know if this is appropriate, but I will ask , were
you consulted?
[
No audible response.]
Sen. Mischa Fubler: No? Okay, so I will endeavour to
provide a more substantive response in writing to that around which case stakeholders were consulted di-rectly.
But just to hit again on the point that the consultative process was rather involved and appeals were made to all members of the public to participate in the process, including those several Facebook Live ses-sions and the virtual meetings with many groups, including architects, agents, real estate agents, et cetera.
And I guess again, from kind of a personal perspective, I know the associations like ABIC and ABIR are valued partners in the international business space.
But I think the kind of primary motivation for
how we shape the city for the next decade plays to be
people centred. And so hopefully they participated.
They were invited, but I do not know if we should add
B ermuda Senate kind of primacy or precedence to them being consulted
directly.
Sen. Tawana Tannock: Thank you, Senator Fubler. I
always enjoy having discussions with you. I appreciate your feedback.
[
Laughter]
The President: Senator Fubler, it's left to you to pass
your motion.
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Thank you. And so . . . what's the
one I got here? All right.
Madam President, I appreciate the strong support for the Plan, from many of my colleagues, and the challenging, thought -provoking questions that have
been raised by the I ndependent Senator. They were
very welcome. I think it is important to challenge ideas so that we can arrive at what is the best option amongst the ones we have. And her questions especially highlight the importance of getting this right, not just on pa-per, but in practi ce.
And while this plan does not contain all of the
answers as highlighted during the question- and-answer period, it provides the framework and tools for us to respond to the evolving needs of our city. I take seri-ously the issues raised today and commit to co llaborating with stakeholders to ensure this P lan delivers
meaningful outcomes that today mark the beginning of that process.
And Madam President, I now move that the
motion be approved.
The President: Is there any objection to the approval
of the motion?
No objection. The motion is approved.
[
Motion carried: The City of Hamilton Plan 2025 was
approved.]
The President: Thank you, Senator Fubler, and thank
you, Senators. We will move on.
MOTIONS
The President: There are none.
QUESTION PERIOD
[
Recommitted]
The President: And before we move on to item 15,
Congratulatory and/or O bituary Speeches, I would just
like to inform Senators that Minister C aesar, in her capacity as s pokesperson for Finance [in the Senate] , to
3 See Parliamentary Question asked by Senator Marcus J ones on page 286 pr
ovide answers to questions raised on the Bill, the
Customs Tariff Amendment Act [sic] earlier.
She does have those answers for you, and I
would just like to make a comment, and that is, prior to Minister C aesar providing her answers, I want to advise
that there will be no supplemental debate as the Bill has
already passed. She i s only providing the answers to
the questions posed this morning as she announced that she would do.
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Thank you, Madam
President.
The President: Senator Caesar, you have the floor.
BERMUDA MONETARY AUTHORITY
ANNUAL REPORT 2024
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Thank you, Madam
President, and it's actually the Bermuda Monetary Au-thority Annual Report [2024] questions that I will be
speaking to. And I do thank the technical officers for
providing this information in such an efficient and timely
manner so as to provide the responses today.
I will read the question and then the answer
provided.
3The question was, H ow does the Bermuda
Monetary Authority manage the rapid expansion of digital finance growth in Bermuda with robust consumer
protection? The answer is that the BMA ensures effective oversight of Bermuda's rapidly evolving digital sec-tor through a comprehensive and adaptive approach. This includes a specific focus on ensuring that licenced entities are adhering to their conduct obligations to treat customers fairly. The BMA continues to update the
framework to address emerging risks and align with international standards.
With the growing sector, there comes increased fee revenue which allows for a growing team that closely supervises all licenced FinTech firms and
supports innovation through the regulatory sandbox. It should be noted that our BMA supervisors are very ex-perienced in the F inTech sector as the BMA has been
supervising this sector since 2018.
The BMA actively monitors the market to ensure all relevant activities are appropriately regulated
and has strategically developed relationships with other
regulators through a memorandum of understanding which will assist with effective oversight and also is a
member of other regulatory bodies such as IOSCO, FSB Regional Consultancy Group, Global Financial In-novation Network, and they focus on emerging issues
assisting the BMA to keep the regulatory framework
and applications current.
There was another question, Madam President, with regard to executive compensation. Given the
360 5 June 202 5 Official Hansard Report
B ermuda Senate dramatic increase in compensation and board fees,
what benchmarks or standards were used for the in-creases in compensation? And the answer is that in order to obtain and maintain requisite talent that allows for the BMA to achieve a globally recognised status, such as equivalence under the EU's Solvency II Directive and recognition by the US NAIC, for which very
few jurisdictions have achieved, the BMA uses bench-marks that involve comparable foreign regulatory bod-ies and also local factors given the BMA is also in competition locally in a number of skill set areas.
Salaries and benefits have grown year over
year, proportionate to the change in the BMA's head-count. The BMA's recognition by foreign regulators ul-timately benefits Bermuda and the financial sector, al-lowing financial services companies to set up in Ber-muda and operate globally with minimum overseas hur-dles such as reduced collateral requirements being imposed upon them by other jurisdictions. This provides
this jurisdiction a competitive advantage, making it more attractive for financial services.
Assessors not only review whether regulatory
frameworks meet the standard, but assessment also includes both the quantity of staff and their respective
skills to implement the frameworks. The BMA is as-sessed by international standard setters, and it is re-quired to have a complement of staff that is sufficient
enough to regulate and supervise the given size, na-ture, and complexity of the business it regulates. Not
only does Bermuda have one of the largest insurance
markets in the world, but it is also the home of four des-ignated international active insurance groups (IAIGs) that are subject to the highest international standards and scrutiny.
Anything less than the required staffing complement, both in number and skill sets, would nega-tively affect Bermuda's reputation and result in Ber-muda not being viewed as well as its peers. Therefore, appropriate staff and corporate governance of the BMA is required.
The year -over-year variance in compensation
is largely attributed to increases in headcount due to the aforementioned explanation. The board compensa-tion is part of a regular assessment of the BMA's board effectiveness and includes a review of both perfor-mance and skill sets. A strong contributor to the organisation's success is that the board members are fairly compensated for their oversight of the BMA's strategy, risk, and management.
Compensation remained fairly static in the recent past years. Similarly, the salary for the CEO's po-sition had been the same for approximately the last
decade prior to the 2024 increase.
I believe I answered the question with regard
to the nature of staff, whether they are local versus
work permit holders. I answered that earlier today.
Finally, the last question is information sharing
with regard to the corporate income tax. What is the
level of information shared by the BMA with the Ministry of Finance and the newly formed CIT Commission with
regard to entities that have declared deferred tax as-sets to the BMA? Does the BMA provide feedback on this? The response is that the BMA continues to cooperate with all local agencies, including the CIT, to the extent that it is allowed under the law. Therefore, cooperation has included the sharing of best practices and
other capacity -building information.
The BMA does not have statutory powers to
share information with the CITA regarding confidential
licensee information. However, the authority does have the statutory power to share information with the Ministry of Finance and may share any information requested by the Ministry of Finance that is required to assist in carrying out its statutory duties and functions.
Thank you for your indulgence, Madam President. I believe I have answered the questions from to-day.
The President: Thank you, Minister Crystal Caesar.
We appreciate you taking the time to get the answers and to provide it. We will now move on to—oh . . .
POINT OF CLARIFICATION
[Payroll Tax Amendment Act 2025]
Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: Madam President, in
the spirit of moving on, I have a point of clarification—
The President: Yes.
Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: —and that was in response to a question asked by Senator Cunningham in relation to the Payroll T ax Amendment.
I think her specific question was about whether
there was a cap on the remuneration. My colleague,
Senator Caesar, was answering there is no cap, but we still thought it was under the statutory section.
I did have to look it up, Senator Cunningham,
and it is not. It is just tied to remuneration under 7(1)(c)
of the primary Act, which is the Payroll Tax Act 1995,
which really refers to any money that is in connection
with the termination. Whether your golden handshake might be eligible is a question of the particular contract, but if the remuneration is in fact tied to the termination of the employment or the redundancy, the employee
portion of the tax is waived. The employer will still have
to pay its share on your hefty handshake. Thank you.
The President: Thank you, Minister Wilkerson, for giving that [clarification].
Senator Lindsay Simmons, you have a—
[
Inaudible interjection]
The President: Yes. We will move on now.
Senator Lindsay Simmons, you have indicated
you—
B ermuda Senate Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Yes, Madam President .
The President: — want to speak. You can speak now.
CONGRATULATORY AND/OR OBITUARY
SPEECHES
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Thank you, Madam President.
First of all, I wanted to highlight and congratulate Tahjae Welch. Tahjae won the international award,
the FMI Food Industry Association 2025 Store Manager
Award. He . . . it was a global pool of hundreds of entrants. Mr. Welch competed, and then once he won that pool, he then competed against two other finalists in the International Retailers category and won. But I wanted
to highlight, if you do not mind, Madam President,
something that he said that I think should be heard—not just seen but heard. He said, “ To be recognised on
a global scale in the grocery industry just shows other young males of the community that there is still a young man out there doing positive things.”
He added, “Leading by example— it makes a
big impact.”
He works at A1 in Paget. His parents were
there to congratulate him. His MarketPlace family was there, and friends and family were there. This is a huge accomplishment, especially in a time when we have so
many negativities out there with our young Black
males. He's the youngest manager to work in The MarketPlace. So I just want to, again, congratulate Tahjae Welch for his award that he won, because that's phe-nomenal.
On another note, Madam President, I would
like to give condolences to Clyde Darrell's family. When I started to run in constituency 10, I was told to come to
Mr. Darrell, and Mr. Darrell welcomed me into his home, and he had my back. His whole neighbourhood, he would send them messages and let them know that
I was there. And he was the reason why I started collecting the trash on Bridle Hill. He told me about the issues on Bridle Hill. So I want to say condolences to his wife, Dawn Darrell, his daughter, Katrina, his son, Clyde Jr., his grandchildren, Josiah, Anaiah, Aaria, and Aiden Darrell. May he rest in peace.
I also want to give condolences to the family of
Ralph Eugene Bean, Sr., known as “Gumbo.” He was an intricate part of the sports community, especially in our village. So condolences to his wife, Carol Bean, his son, Ralph Jr., and his daughter, I know as Nikki, but
Robin Nicole Smith, her husband, Clay, and their
grandchildren.
I also want to give condolences to the family of
Brackston (Braxton) Ronald Llewellyn Simmons. He
was a proud father of Linda Bogle -Mienzer , her wife,
Christine, Roseann “Buffy ” Mienzer , as well as his
grandchildren and also . . . the whole family. So condolences to the Simmons -Mienzer family. And the last person I wanted to give . . . well,
two more, sorry . . . to give condolences to Chriss Russell Thomas and his family on the passing of Chriss to his son, Chrishan, who is my cousin, and all his family and friends condolences.
And lastly, I would like to give, sorry, two more.
I want to also give condolences to the family of Honnee Smith , who tragically lost her life, to her aunt Ashley.
Condolences to you, Callahj, and Jenny. You guys are in my prayers —and her daughter, Halia.
And lastly, I promise, I want to give condolences to the family of Olive Layne. Olive also lives in
constituency 10. And I just wanted to give condolences
to her son, Cyril, her daughter -in-law, Kenlene Steede,
her grandchildren, Moses Steede, and to the w hole
family. May she also rest in peace.
Thank you, Madam President.
The President: Thank you, Senator.
I see your hand, Senator Victoria Cunningham.
You have the floor.
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: Well, I did not think I was
going to be here tonight, so I did them a little early. But
I want to now congratulate our Gombey Warriors for their amazing 5- 0 victory.
[
Desk thumping]
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: They are one step closer
to the World Cup. I think Bermuda, the entire Island, is going to be behind them. I want to particularly highlight Zeiko Lewis, who's a young man I've been working with, who scored at the 12- minute penalty on his 31st
birthday. So, congratulations to the entire team, the
manager of the team, I think it's coach Michael Findlay.
And I want to say Bermuda is proud of you. So, let's keep going.
The President: Yes.
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: And secondly, even
though she just beat me to the punch, I would like to wish our Senate colleague, Lindsay Simmons, a happy birthday for tomorrow.
[
Desk thumping]
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: Thank you for skilfully
handing two Ministry briefs today.
The President: Yes, absolutely.
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: You were complaining
about how much speaking you could do. Well, you could just give us time for more questions and then you wouldn't have to speak so long.
[
Laughter]
362 5 June 202 5 Official Hansard Report
B ermuda Senate Sen. Victoria Cunningham: But I think you deserve a
well-deserved break. And thank you for the cake.
The President: Would any other Senator?
Yes, Senator Tawana Tannock, you have the
floor.
Sen. Tawana Tannock: Yes. Thank you, Madam President. I would just like to send get well soon wishes to
my mom who is hospitalised. I was not able to visit her today because I was in this Chamber. But I know . . . if
I know her, she is probably listening. So Mommy, get
well s oon. I love you.
The President: And we will join you in wishing her well,
too.
Would any other Senator care to— Senator
Crystal Caesar, you have the floor.
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Thank you, Madam
President. I know that these two gentlemen in particular
have been mentioned in another place, but I thought it fitting to end, also earlier this week.
But I would like to pay my respects to the families, firstly, of counsellor and former Senator and law-yer Larry Scott. I pay my respects to his family in that he was very much well known for being a drive for so-cial justice and was still serving as a counsellor at the time of his passing. I would like to . . . he is very well
known as the consummate gentleman. He was very vo-cal on issues of social justice in Bermuda, and I believe that he will definitely be a miss.
And finally, for me, I would like to speak on
somebody who is near and dear to my heart. In fact, he was the father of my very first friend in that she and I
were crib mates, and they were neighbours of mine for
a long time. And I speak of none other than [Dr.] Melvyn Bassett.
He has contributed much over the years to the
Bermuda community, very well known in Somerset and
Island wide as an educator and obviously the principal
at the Sandys Secondary Middle School. He presided over the change back in . . . 20- some years ago now
from a secondary school to a middle school. He also
was instrumental in seeing the construction of Sandys 360. And we are hoping that with time that it will come
back to its former glory because it was a vision of his
and very much a . . . much needed commu nity location
for young people.
He presided over the Association of School
Principals, served as vice chairman of the Bermuda Middle School Association. He was very instrumental
with the National Drug Commission, the Police Advisory Committee, and the Archibald Drug Commission. I mean, there was just no end to what this gentleman did in terms of serving Bermuda.
Most notably for me, as I said, he was the father of my very first friend and stood with me at the very
last two elections, the very last one and the one before. He said, O h, I can give a couple of hours . And so he'd
come and then stay till the end.
Just an extraordinary gentleman. His family will
miss him tremendously. His daughter, Rusheika, and
his son- in-law . . . her husband, I expressed to them
and their five children, his grandchildren, which he
doted on tremendously. In fact, I was quite surprised to
hear that he had passed as he had just attended two of their graduations mere weeks, maybe days before his untimely passing.
I know that he was very respected, like I said,
in the Somerset community and Island wide. And so I
do express my condolences at his passing. Oh, and I'd
like to say he also shares the birthday, same birthday as my mom. So that was always . . . they would always
call each other on their birthdays.
Thank you, Madam President.
The President: And thank you, Senator Caesar.
Would any other Senator care to speak?
Hearing none, then it's —sorry, you wanted to
speak.
Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: I do, Madam President.
Thank you.
The President: Senator Wilkerson.
Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: I had already certainly
raised condolences to the family of Melvyn Bassett. But I certainly appreciate my colleague's personal reminis-cence of him. And he was absolutely a figure in our neighbourhood.
Madam President, I rise to congratulate the organisers last evening for the event put on by the Sargasso Sea Commission in Bermuda in advance of
World Ocean Day, which is on Saturday.
And I had the pleasure, well, I was not watching
the football because I went to see the film, Ocean, nar-rated by the great David Attenborough at BUEI. And I
simply wanted to say it was a . . . the film was beautiful
and disturbing at the same time when we think about
what is happening with our oceans and the ocean is the thing that unites all of the wor ld and its people. And
what we have to do to continue to protect the ocean. And this film and the panel discussion that followed really highlighted the role that Bermuda plays because of
our unique position in the world and in the ocean in driv-ing forward change around protection.
And so in that regard, I do want to call out and
congratulate, not that they may be listening at this point in time, Fae Sapsford, who is a Marine Research Fellow with the Sargasso Sea Commission, and her colleague, Ali Hochberg, who hosted the panel last night,
which also included Dr. Mark Guishard from BIOS, J.P.
Rouja for all of the amazing work that he's doing around environmental DNA tracking, along with Carika Wel-don, where there is no end to her capacity. And we also
B ermuda Senate heard from Jessica Mello on aspects of the blue economy.
So, a well . . . really, really well done set of
presentations, and certainly a call to action around the
ocean. So, I wanted to congratulate them and certainly make all of Bermuda aware that we have a role to play.
And certainly, there are a number of events going on
Saturday, down at the Aquarium, at BUEI and so on in
relation to World Ocean Day.
But I think that people should take away that as
we approach summer , and as we think about how we're
engaging with the ocean, that we continue to be mindful
about our use of plastics, about how we treat things,
what we take away, because this is a resource that will continue to pay us back if we treat it properly.
Thank you, Madam President.
The President: Thank you, Minister Wilkerson, Madam
Attorney General, and Leader in the—Government Leader in the Senate.
Would any other Senator care to speak? Oh, I didn't see you for a moment.
Sen. Mischa Fubler: I wasn't —I wasn't putting my
hand up quite high enough there.
The President: Senator Fubler, you have the floor.
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Thank you. And I guess I'll start
out by associating myself with the comments from Sen-ator Cunningham for our Gombey Warriors. It was a delight to watch them put several goals into the Cay-man Islands, especially in the second half. A pleasure to watch.
And then also, I would like to extend congratulations to the charity Bermuda is Love, and many of you, and if you have not yet, I encourage you to go check out their social media. This month, their cam-paign, which changes month to month, so commenda-ble, they're putting in quite a lot of volunteer effort, is
focused on housing and having . . . encouraging people
to kind of rethink the commodification of housing. You
know, one of their central tenets is that housing is a hu-man right, and it's something that I agree with personally. And so congratulations to them, June 2025, they are encouraging you to join them.
And then finally, I would also like to extend congratulations to Out Bermuda. They, at the past week-end, had another instance of their Tea Time, which are smaller sessions intended to provide Q&A session and introduction to members of the LGBTQ community, as well as allies, so that they can familiarise themselves
with their current executive, as well as provide some
detail around the events that are coming up next month, actually, culminating with July 5th being the Pride Pa-rade and the, I guess concert, for lack of a better word, in the park. And just to declare my interest, I am one of the performers. I'll be DJing, as I have been since its
inception. So come down if you like to dance, or if you
want to help provide support.
[
Laughter]
Sen. Mischa Fubler: I'm sure most of us in the listening public, many of us have a family member who is a
member of the community, and who may be apprehen-sive about living in their truth. And so you, as an ally, or just someone who thinks that they should be able to exist in our society, should join the parade, because
this was something that stood out from the presentation.
Our participation helps to provide cover for
those who may not quite yet be comfortable in coming
out, as it were, but they can then participate. They en-courage you, those of us who work for entities who like to sponsor and send groups to participate, that you
should participate as well to help provide cover, as it were. But again, congratulations to both of those groups.
And I'll wrap up there, because it is quite late.
Thank you, Madam President.
The President: Thank you, Minister Fubler.
Minister Wilkerson, Attorney General and Government Leader in the Senate, it is over to you.
ADJOURNMENT
Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: Thank you, Madam
President.
I now move that the Senate adjourn until July 2.
The President: Thank you.
Would any Senator care to speak on the motion to adjourn?
Hearing none. I thank you all for your attendance today and the hard work that you were able to ac-complish.
The Senate stands adjourned. Thank you.
[
At 8:09 pm, the Senate stood adjourned until
10:00 am, Wednesday, 2 July 2025.]
364 5 June 202 5 Official Hansard Report
B ermuda Senate [
This page intentionally left blank.]
And for the last time this week, the seat goes back to
Madam President. Thank you all.
[Pause]
Senate resumed at 7:00 pm
[Sen. the Hon. Joan E. Dillas -Wright, President, presiding]
REPORT OF COMMITTEE
APPROPRIATION ACT 202 5
ESTIMATES OF REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE
FOR THE YEAR 202 5/26
The President: Senators, t he Report of the C ommittee
has been received. And do you give approval for it to
be adopted?
Yes. Good. So, the report has been adopted.
And I would like to take this opportunity to
thank Vice President John Wight and Senator Tawana
Tannock for chairing the C ommittees, the Appropriation
Act this week. You have both done a stellar job. And I
also thank all Senators who have participated. I think
it's been a very busy week, but it's been a very effective
week. So, thank you all for that.
We will now move on then with the rest of the
agenda. I will just . . .
[Crosstalk]
The President: I thought you did this . . . we did not do
it?
[Pause and crosstalk ]
The President: We need to do the third reading and
pass.
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Thank you, Madam
President .
I move that the Bill be now read the third time.
The President: Is there any objection to the third reading?
No objection.
BILL
THIRD READING
APPROPRIATION ACT 202 5
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: I move that the Bill entitled the Appropriation Act 2025 do now pass.
The President: Is there any objection to the passing of
the Bill ?
No objection. The Bill has passed.
[Motion carried: The Appropriation Act 2025 was read
a third time and passed.]
The President: Thank you very much, Minister Crystal
Caesar, spokesperson for Finance [in the Senate]. You
have done a very good job today.
So, Senators, we will move on then with our
agenda. We have other Bills to consider. Item No. 2 on
our Orders of the Day is consideration of the Government Fees Amendment Regulations 2025.
And that is in the name of Senator the Honourable Crystal Caesar , spokesperson for F inance [in the
Senate] . So, you have—
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Thank you, Madam
President.
Madam President, I move that the Senate do
take under consideration the Government Fees
Amendment Regulations 2025 proposed to be made by
the Minister of Finance in exercise of the power conferred by section 2 of the Government Fees Act 1965.
The President: Is there any objection to that motion?
No objection.
DRAFT REGULATIONS
GOVERNMENT FEES AMENDMENT
REGULATIONS 2025
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Thank you, Madam
President.
352 5 June 2025 Official Hansard Report
Bermuda Senate Madam President, in the P re-Budget Report tabled in another place in December, a number of tax reductions were outlined that were under consideration to
ease the tax burden faced by residents and busi-nesses. This Government has a history of ensuring that
better fiscal performance results in meaningful relief for
taxpayers.
Madam President, I now bring to this H onourable [Senate] one of the fee reductions promised within
the Pre-Budget Report and the 2025 Budget Statement. Madam President, as stated in the 2025 B udget
Statement, access to communication is essential for
work, for education, for staying connected with loved
ones. T o ease the financial burden of mobile services,
the Government will reduce the monthly fee on mobile
phones by 50 per cent from $12 to $6. This measure
will result in immediate savings for every mobile customer and is a part of our commitment to lowering the
cost of essential services. This tax reduction will take
effect from 1 July 2 025 and is expected to reduce revenue by $2 million .
Madam President, the following fee within
these regulations will be amended within the existing
head in the revised 2025 F ee Schedule as follows :
• Head 76 (Telecommunications Act 1986), provisions section 1(e)(iv).
Thank you, Madam President.
The President: Thank you, Minister Caesar.
Would any Senator care to speak on th ese
Regulations?
No. Hearing none. It's over to you, Minister.
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Sorry , give me a second, Madam President.
[Crosstalk]
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: I move that [Standing
Order] 26 be—
[Pause and c rosstalk]
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Madam President, I
move that the said draft R egulations be approved and
that the following message be sent to H is Excellency
the Governor.
“May it please Y our Excellency, the Senate
having had under consideration the draft R egulations
entitled the G overnment Fees Amendment Regulations
2025 proposed to be made by the Minister of Finance
in exercise of the power conferred by section 2 of the
Government Fees Act 1965 has the honour to inform
Your Excellency that the S enate has approved the said
draft Regulations. ”
The President: Senators, do you give your approval?
Yes. Thank you. A suitable message will be
sent. [Motion carried: The Government Fees Amendment
Regulations 2025 were approved.]
The President: That takes care of Item No. 2 on our
Orders of the D ay. Item No. 3 we did earlier , yes.
So, we move on to Item No. 4 which is the second reading of the L and Tax Amendment Act 2025 and
that is in the name of Senator the Honourable Crystal
Caesar, s pokesperson for F inance [in the Senate].
Senator . . . Minister Caesar you can have the
floor when you are ready.
BILL
SECOND READING
LAND TAX AMENDMENT ACT 2025
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Madam President, today I am presenting to this H onourable Chamber the
Land Tax Amendment Act 2025. This B ill will amend
the Land Tax Act 1967 by decreasing the base rate of
land tax for residential units.
Madam President, as the Honourable Premier
and Finance Minister stated in the budget speech, Bermuda's land tax is a significant revenue earner for the Government but can also represent a burden for homeowners and renters alike.
In 2019, a new base rate was introduced and
set at $300 a year. Given the Island's fiscal progress,
more relief can be provided. The Government will reduce the base rate of land tax from $300 per year to $150. This reduction will apply to all homeowners and
renters who pay land tax.
Madam President, as Senators in this Honourable Chamber are aware, annual land tax is managed
in two periods from 1 July to 31 December , and 1 January to 30 June each year. The proposed change to the
land tax base rate will go into effect as of 1 January
2026. This ensures that the O ffice of the T ax Commissioner has sufficient time to make the necessary adjust-ments to billing amounts and notices to be provided to the impacted homeowners.
Madam President, we hear the cries from our
people who are finding it difficult to navigate our economic landscape and offer assistance as we can. This
reduction will assist homeowners and renters.
I will also add, Madam President, that the majority of the workforce, which we can safely assume
also includes a number of homeowners, have seen their taxes decrease in prior fiscal years. Having done
this and achieved balance, we believe that this is the
right time to provide this relief.
Thank you, Madam President.
The President: Thank you, Minister.
Would any Senator care to speak on this Bill?
Sen. Marcus Jones: Thank you, Madam President.
Bermuda Senate The President: Marcus Jones, Opposition Leader in
the Senate, you have the floor.
Sen. Marcus Jones: Thank you, Madam President,
and thank you, Minister of Education, s pokesman for
Finance Caesar. We do support this Land Tax Amendment Act for 2025. Any way that we can find relief for
our fellow citizens in times of hardship and cost of living
being at the status that it is in right now, we would agree
and concur that this amendment pass.
Thank you, Madam President.
The President: And thank you. Would any other Senator care to speak on this Bill?
Hearing none, then Minister C aesar, you have
full support.
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Madam President, I
move that the B ill entitled the Land Tax Amendment Act
2025 be now read a second time.
The President: Is there any objection to that motion?
No objection.
SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDER 26
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Madam President, I
move that [Standing Order] 26 be suspended in respect
of this Bill.
The President: Is there any objection to that motion?
No objection.
[Motion carried: Standing Order 26 suspended.]
BILL
THIRD READING
LAND TAX AMENDMENT ACT 2025
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Madam President, I
move that the B ill entitled the Land Tax Amendment Act
2025 be now read a third time.
The President: Is there any objection to the third reading?
No objection.
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Madam President, I
move that the Bill do now pass.
The President: Is there any objection to the passage
of the Bi ll?
The Bill is passed.
Thank you, Minister C aesar.
[Motion carried: The Land Tax Amendment Act 2025 was read a third time and passed.] The President: Senators, we will now move on to Item
No. 5 on our Orders of the Day, and that is the second
reading of the Payroll Tax Amendment Act 2025. And
that is also in the name of the Honourable Crystal C aesar, Minister and s pokesperson for Finance [in the Senate].
BILL
SECOND READING
PAYROLL TAX AMENDMENT ACT 2025
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Thank you, Madam
President.
I am pleased to present to this Honourable
House the Payroll Tax Amendment Act 2025 . This Bill
will make amendments to both the Payroll Tax Act 1995
and the Payroll Tax Rates Act 1995.
Madam President, the effect of these amendments is to exempt the employee portion of payroll tax
on payments made to employees on account of redundancy or otherwise in connection with the permanent
termination of employment.
Madam President, this Bill represents our commitment to supporting employees during the uncer-tainty that comes with job losses. By providing payroll tax relief on redundancy and like payments, it ensures
that more money stays in the hands of those affected.
This Government is committed to providing relief and
assistance to the people who need it most.
Madam President, the f irst amendment will establish a special provision in the Payroll Tax Act for remuneration paid to an employee in connection with the permanent termination of employment on account of
redundancy or otherwise. Under the current legislation, such payments would be subject to payroll tax on both
the employer and employee portions for up to three
years following termination. This amendment will now
exempt those payments from the employee standard rate bands, thereby providing meaningful rel ief to the
employee during a critical period of transition.
Madam President, the Second Amendment
pertains to the Payroll Tax Rates Act 1995, which cur-rently outlines tax based on employee rate bands. This
amendment introduces a significant change in prescribing a zero percent rate on the employee portion of payroll tax for remuneration paid in connection with the permanent termination of employment.
Madam President, in conclusion, I wish to reaffirm that this government remains steadfast in its commitment to listening to the people. We continue to act
with fiscal responsibility and sound governance while delivering meaningful relief where it is most n eeded.
Thank you, Madam President.
The President: Thank you, Minister.
354 5 June 202 5 Official Hansard Report
B ermuda Senate ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT
SENATE VISITOR
The President: Before I present it to the Senators, I
would just like to acknowledge and to welcome [the
Honourable] Minister Diallo Rabain , the Minister for the
Cabinet Office and Digital Innovation.
Welcome you, sir.
[
Second reading debate, continuing]
The President: Would any Senator care to speak on
this Bill?
Sen. Marcus Jones: Yes, Madam President.
The President: Senator Marcus Jones, you have the
floor.
Sen. Marcus Jones: Thank you, Madam President.
The Opposition . . . we definitely support this
amendment to the payroll tax. This is an example of a
targeted tax break that makes sense, and so we support it.
Thank you, Madam President.
The President: Thank you, Senator Marcus Jones.
Senator Cunningham, I see you. You have the
floor.
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: Thank you. I do have one
question, as this actually, unfortunately, related to me a few years ago.
But while you have got the government statutory amount for redundancy pay, some companies will pay over that. So, I'm just wanting to make sure that
this Bill would still reflect any redundancy pay and
whether or not employers might add final leaving bo-nuses and things like that. It's just a case of how it
would all kind of work out.
2And my second, I guess, supplemental to that
would be, would it apply to (what I have never had) a
golden handshake or an executive severance package? And is there going to be a cap or a threshold on
the maximum amount that you would be exempt from
payroll tax? Thank you, Madam President.
The President: Thank you, Senator Cunningham.
[
Pause]
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: I would like to answer
the second question first, if you do not mind, Madam
President.
The President: Not at all.
2 See Point of Clarification on page 360 Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: The legislation actually
does speak to . . . I am sorry, a tax on the statutory
amount and does not speak to amounts over that. But we are just seeking . . . if you could just ask your first
question again, please.
We are just seeking clarification.
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: So my first question is, as
I understand it, currently the redundancy pay, statutory is two weeks per year, up to 26 weeks, I think. So if the employer making the employee redundant ends up do-ing three weeks per year, or there being no maximum,
they have worked somewhere for 30 years, they just
keep going, would the tax be on top of that statutory? And I think you have kind of just answered it.
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Yes, yes.
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: Would there be . . . would
that extra week be payroll taxed and two weeks that are statutory be not?
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Right. So yes, I think
the answer to the previous question would also inform the answer to this.
The statutory amount obviously must be complied with. And if an employer, you know, wanted to be that much more gracious, then that is not necessarily subject to the tax.
And I believe that's it.
The President: Yes. Thank you.
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Madam President, I
move that the Bill entitled Payroll Tax Amendment Act
2025 be now read a second time.
The President: Is there any objection to the second
reading?
No objection.
SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDER 26
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Madam President, I
move that [Standing Order ] 26 be suspended in respect
of this Bill.
The President: Is there any objection to that motion?
No objection.
[
Motion carried: Standing Order 26 suspended.]
BILL
THIRD READING
B ermuda Senate PAYROLL TAX AMENDMENT ACT 2025
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Madam President, I
move that the Bill entitled the Payroll Tax Amendment
Act 2025 be now read a third time.
The President: Is there any objection to the third reading?
No objection.
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Madam President, I
move that the Bill do now pass.
The President: Is there any objection to the passage
of the Bill?
No objection. The Bill is passed. Thank you, Minister and thank you, Senators.
[
Motion carried: The Payroll Tax Amendment Act 2025
was read a third time and passed.]
The President: We will now move on to Item No. 6 on
our Orders of the Day. And that is the motion to be
moved by Senator Mischa G . Fubler, the Junior Minister for the Cabinet Office and Digital Innovation.
Senator Fubler, you have the floor.
MOTION
CITY OF HAMILTON PLAN 2025
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Thank you, Madam President.
I move that the Senate do now take under consideration the following motion:
BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate approves
the City of Hamilton Plan 2025, pursuant to the provisions of section 11 of the Development and Planning
Act 1974.
The President: Is there any objection to that motion?
No objection.
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Madam President, we are at a
turning point and the way we think about , plan for and
build the future of Bermuda's capital. I rise today to move in accordance with section 11 of the D evelopment and Planning Act 1974 that this H onourable
Chamber consider and approve the City of Hamilton
Plan 2025 , a modern and ambitious planning framework designed to transform our city into a place that is not only functional, but also vibrant, people centred and
economically resilient.
Madam President, this Plan has undergone a
robust consultation process and builds on the successful implementation of the N orth E ast Hamilton Local
Plan 2022. It reflects a new way of thinking that embraces flexibility, sustainability and strategic investment. This Plan represents a shift from outdated prescriptive planning policies, propelling us boldly into a more sustainable, adaptable and human centred approach to urban development.
Let us begin with what has rightly been the
most discussed element : building heights in the city of
Hamilton. There is no question this is the elephant in the room. The C ity of Hamilton Plan 2025 removes the
rigid numerical height cap formerly tied to the cathedral at 138 feet OD ( ordinance datum) and introduces in its
place a merit -based design led framework. This has led
some to ask, Well, does this mean that someone can
build a 30- storey tower with no oversight ? Or, What is
the maximum building height in the city once the City
Plan 2025 comes into effect?
Madam President, the absence of a fixed number does not imply a lack of control. It signifies that con-trol is now linked to context, design quality and public benefit rather than a uniform rule that treats every site identically. Under this new framework, any building,
whether it is 10- , 15-, 25- or more storeys must earn its
place on the skyline. This means undergoing a visual impact assessment, submitting a robust design state-ment, proving it adds value to the public realm, walka-bility and the urban context.
The P lan introduces a responsive discretionbased framework. Height will be assessed based on location , design quality, context and the proposal ’s overall contribution to the city. Proposals for tall buildings will not be automatically rejected, nor will they receive rubber stamp approval. They must justify their height.
This is not deregulation. It is better regulation.
Madam President, the height limit based on the
cathedral served its purpose at one time. However, in
the 21st century, in a city where the economic centre is
shifting, housing is urgently needed, and inward investment must be attracted. Freezing the skyline to protect
a single landmark is no longer practical or sustainable.
Our ambition is to build up and build well. This Plan
makes that possible.
Madam President, let us not reduce the Plan to
just height. It is about much more. This Plan reflects a
profound strategic rethinking of how a modern capital
city should function. The former 2015 Plan, while valuable in its time, was based on a conventional rigid zon-ing approach that separated uses, fixed parameters and often resulted in delays, appeals and frustration among investors and developers.
Madam President, the City of Hamilton Plan
2025 is not just a technical document , it is a vision
statement for what our capital city can become. It re-flects a shift in how we think about urban life, not merely in terms of buildings and roads, but in terms of people, experience and purpose. It envisions Hamilton as a living city, one where housing is accessible, culture and
commerce thrive side by side, streets come alive after 5:00 pm and public spaces foster community, creativity
and care.
At its core, this P lan delivers some key priorities. It is about placemaking, ensuring that Hamilton becomes a place where people want to spend time, not
356 5 June 202 5 Official Hansard Report
B ermuda Senate just pass through. It is about housing, making the city
not only a workplace but a vibrant neighbourhood with diverse residential opportunities.
It is about design, encouraging high- quality architecture that respects heritage but is not bound by replication. It is about sustainability, not just mitigating
our impact on climate change but adapting to it through
better materials, more innovative infrastructure and cli-mate- conscious design. And crucially, it is about reform, aligning our planning goals with the streamlining of permits, processes and timelines to make good de-velopment easier to deliver.
Madam President, the City of Hamilton Plan
2025 is not solely focused on what is constructed but also on how swiftly, effectively and equitably we facili-tate its implementation. It is in line with the G overnment's broader commitment to modernising public ser-vices and unlocking private sector potential through
more intelligent and responsive governance.
As a result, this P lan will deliver :
•fewer unnecessary planning appeals asclearer policy guidance and earlier engagement reduce ambiguity ;
•shorter decision timelines supported by pre-consultation;
•clearer criteria and ongoing reforms to the approvals process ;
•greater scope for investment opportunities asunderused sites and restrictive zoning rules
are replaced with strategic direction and designflexibility ;
and
•a mor
e agile and responsive urban development system capable of adapting to the chang-ing needs of Hamilton and Bermuda morebroadly.
Madam President, we heard during the House
debate— or in another place—and likely will hear again
today several valid questions. Allow me to address just
a few particularly relevant ones.
On parking in the retail core. T he Plan prioritises pedestrians to support retail recovery. This is a deliberate choice grounded in global urban best practice. Retail requires foot traffic, not congestion.
On heritage. T here are fewer than 10 listed
buildings in the city. The P lan endorses innovative design that respects the context rather than attempting to freeze time.
On investor confidence. W ith the introduction
of guidance notes, pre- consultation tools and improved
communication, developers will have greater clarity from the outset, making the city not only more appeal-ing for development but also easier to navigate.
Madam President, what we are approving today is not a panacea. It will not on its own fill every va-cant lot, repair ageing infrastructure or eliminate eco-nomic risk, but what it will do is unlock the potential for Hamilton to grow intelligently, sustainably and ambi-tiously. It provides us with the policy tools, the clarity,
and the momentum to pursue a bold new direction for
our capital. Let us adopt this P lan not because we want
to build higher, but because we want to build smarter. Not for change's sake, but because standing still is no longer an option. Not just to enable development, but
to reimagine Hamilton as a city where people live, thrive and belong. Let this be the moment where Hamilton be-gins to rise, with purpose, with vision and with unity.
Thank you, Madam President.
The President: Thank you, Senator Mis cha F ubler ,
Junior Minister for the Cabinet Office and Digital Inno-vation.
Would any S enator care to speak on this motion?
Senator Tannock , you have the floor.
Sen. Tawana Tannock: Yes, thank you, Madam President.
I find myself in the unpleasant task of criticising
something that both parties have unanimously sup-ported, but when I read the Plan, I do have some grave
concerns. Those come from, I guess, both facets of my background—m y Human Rights Commission hat, but
also my international business hat.
When I look at the stakeholders that were consulted, nowhere did I see any Human Rights Commis-sion or the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Seniors, and
nowhere did I see any of the international business organisations like ABIR and ABIC.
The reason why this is important to me is that
Bermuda, especially from Hamilton Princess right up to the middle of Front Street, is known as colloquially “ the
billion dollar square mile” because that's where the
businesses are located that bring in such a large por-tion of our income, our GDP.
I guess my first question is, What has been the
response from the international business stakeholders to this redevelopment of the land? Do they have any
concerns about access, about pedestrianising the
land? I just would like to know if that has been factored in and what's been the res ponse.
The second is with regard to disability. We
know we have talked about pedestrianising it, but let's
just be frank and honest, right? Not everybody can walk
the way that we walk, so when we talk about making
sure that we have pedestrian lanes, are we also making sure that there is a clear way for disability vans for peo-ple who have disabilities to come in, that there is access? I haven't seen a study or impact on those people
with disabilities and the way that this will be accessible
and enhance their experi ence.
And then the third is a subsequent [question] .
If we are expecting people to become pedestrians, I
would assume . . . and I know the parking issue is . . .
you said that will be addressed, but I've also seen in the literature that the intent is almost to make it more walk -
to-work or more walkable. So how are we
B ermuda Senate accommodating for that with our public transportation
schedules? Will there be more ferries to and from the City of Hamilton? Will there be more buses to and from the City of Hamilton? If we are expecting people to
amend the way that they move . . . they are mobile, how
are we supporting that with subsequent amendments?
And, you know, I listened to the House debate
and I heard MP Swan talk about Marsh Folly being able
to be the new Central Park, and all of a sudden I ha d
flashbacks to 1983 and I was at West Pembroke School and we were told that the dump was going to be this fantastic, fantastic centre of urban greenery . Right? So ,
I felt like saying, H aven't we been here before?
So those are my concerns. And like I said, I
don't like to be a naysayer because everybody else is patting each other on the back saying this is fantastic, but I do have grave concerns in those areas.
The President: Thank you, Senator Tannock .
Would any other S enator care to speak on the
motion?
Do you have a response?
Sen. Mischa Fubler: I do. And so, to Senator Tannock’s first question around engaging with stakeholders, we conducted substantial public consultation and the Plan was given an opportunity for any interested
party to make comments. I actually recall joining one of the live streams that they held with some of the technical staff from the P lanning Department, and I hope
that some of the agencies that you referenced, especially around human rights, were engaging in that con-sultation. Many key stakeholders were also consulted
directly.
And while I await some specificity around who
those key stakeholders were, around the pedestriani-sation, this is the P lan. It's not the city changing the current layout. It would be for new development or renovation. All new development is required to include acces-sible design. This is further reinforced through the
building code after planning approval is granted, and
the building permit is issued . . . or being considered.
And I think we will need to . . . okay, so changing hats here from the Cabinet Office to the Ministry of Tourism, Transport, Culture, and Sport, I think there is a concerted effort to enhance the public transit. We
highlighted during the debate on Wednesday around
the addition of two new ferries added to the fleet and the intention of retiring older public transit vehicles so that we increase the reliability and enhance that public service, specifically around the transport.
And I guess to answer the question, the comment around the Central Park and the dump . . .
[
Laughter]
Sen. Mischa Fubler: It was at one point. It's no longer
that, right? And so I am unfortunately unable to give
comment to that in this debate because it's outside of the city limits and not within the remit of this Plan. But I will say that around parking specifically and accessibil-ity, I was reading through the P lan and it made this assertion around there i s surplus parking. I said, But
where? And so then I have to . . . but there is some.
And I read the . . . let me pull it up here, I have it in my
notes. The City of Hamilton Plan Survey, and they did some rather extensive estimation. They called it “estimation” because they didn't go down and count every
spot, but they leveraged both planning records and Google imagery from 2021. And there are 1,755 private
on-site, non-residential parking spaces within the limits
of the City of Hamilton and a further 1,818 public off -
street car parking spaces, which are available. That's quite a lot, right?
There are 3,573 public and private non- residential car parking spaces within the city and then a further 366 just along the city boundary, including
places like Woodlands Parking Lot, BAA, the Tennis
Stadium and Dutton Ave. And so, I think the parking conc erns should be allayed in that regard. And I don't
know how many of you utilise the Bull ’s Head parking
lot. I work in that area. And unless I'm very late, even
when I am rather late, I can still find significant parking
on the top floor, which I do try to avoid to stay out of the
sun. But the salient point being that I think the parking
is handled.
I do take your point around the accessibility.
And so we do have a number of handicapped parking
spaces. And I do note sometimes I see consternation
on social media from folks who are not disabled saying
that there's too many of them. But I think I would kind
of agree with you as well. And so I'm glad to see in the responses that there is consideration made to all plan-ning proposals to ensure that the new development has
accessible design. And accessibility within the public
realm falls within the remit of the Corporation of Hamilton. And the P lan fully supports inclusive design. Comprehensive studies of parking need will be required, which will include accessible parking.
With this kind of shift in behaviour and the impact on the city, again, I did some additional research because we were originally going to debate this on Tuesday. And you look at cities like Barcelona, and they did a significant change where they drastically reduced the ability or the ease of driving your vehicle
through the city. And they saw significant revitalisation
in the city. And there are many other instances. And so
given kind of our ageing population and challenges with health, we may need to adjust somewhat there. But I
think encouraging walkability in the city will be net pos-itive, even with having to consider the accessible design for those of us who are less mobile.
I have some more responses from the technical officers around consultation. And so just to name
a few of the key stakeholders, they included the Cham-ber of Commerce, the Corporation of Hamilton, all gov-ernment stakeholders, the Institute of Bermuda Architects, some non- governmental organisations as well.
358 5 June 202 5 Official Hansard Report
B ermuda Senate They had several Facebook Live sessions. I alluded to
one that I joined because, for the benefit of the listening
public , my undergraduate degree is in urban studies,
which is a combination of city planning and sociology.
So learning about how cities have developed over time and kind of some guiding principles or best practi ces
for developing vibrant and sustainable cities. And so I was rather excited to see this is the direction of travel that the city is moving into.
From the technical officers who developed the
brief and the Plan, unfortunately, the concerns around
the transport regarding pedestrianisation is outside of
their remit. But as I briefly mentioned, the Department
of Public Transportation and Marine and Ports are both
in this budget , even allocating funding to enhance the
public transportation service as well.
And so hopefully I have answered your questions, but please let me know if you have any supplementaries.
Sen. Tawana Tannock: I do have a supplementary
question. So the first is regarding parking spaces. So
you mentioned that cumulatively there are about 3,500.
Was that your estimation, something like that?
Sen. Mischa Fubler: That is the Planning Department's estimation. They did a survey in the lead up to developing the plan, the City Survey Report from January 2024. And with the leave of Madam President, I
can read in a section from page 216.
Sen. Tawana Tannock: Well, I actually have a . . . so
I guess my follow -up is that number means nothing to
me because I don't know how many cars require parking. I don't know how many cars come into the city
every day. I don't know if that's a sufficient number or if
it's too little or too low. I wanted if you had that information, how many vehicles that require parking come into the C ity of Hamilton every day?
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Sure. Madam President, not for
us to get hung up specifically on the parking, maybe my diversion into that space was not the right approach. But I will also note in the C ity of Hamilton P lan that the
limitations on parking there speak to requiring any new parking on site to conform with the kind of strategic direction that the city takes for parking.
They are looking to have a strategic approach
to how we design new parking. And when you look at
the vibrant cities internationally, a significant proportion of the people that live there, they don't even own a car. You look at New York City and they had a subset, the
commuters basically saying, hey, we shouldn't have
congestion pricing.
But the people that live in New York, they don't
mind, they use transit, they walk around and we a re
looking to have significantly more people living in the city. That's part of the reason why the plan removes that
cap on the building height to try and encourage more people living and working in the city. And I think that the
right approach as to the number that's needed, I guess, need is of course subjective. Does everybody need to
drive into the city? I would argue no. And I think it will be easier for people to avail themselves of the public transportation as we continue to enhance that service
as well.
The President: Senator Fubler —
Sen. Tawana Tannock: Sorry. And I just did have one
supplementary question with regard to the consultation of stakeholders.
Your response was that you are not sure if the
international business community participated in those
consultations and you are also not sure whether or not the Office of Disability or S eniors or the Human Rights
Commission participated in those consultations.
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Correct. I personally am not, but
I am consulting with the technical officers who con-ducted the consultations. And to use their words that outside of those key stakeholders that I enumerated
specifically, they say, The list goes on“! ” (exclamation
point ). So, I assume that several other groups were
consulted. The ABIR and ABIC are arguably also represented by the Chamber of Commerce, I would hope.
Sen. Tawana Tannock: No, they are not. I am the deputy chairperson of ABIC.
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Oh, okay.
Sen. Tawana Tannock: So I can tell you we are not
represented by the Chamber of Commerce.
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Okay, I a m sorry for that. And so
I do not know if this is appropriate, but I will ask , were
you consulted?
[
No audible response.]
Sen. Mischa Fubler: No? Okay, so I will endeavour to
provide a more substantive response in writing to that around which case stakeholders were consulted di-rectly.
But just to hit again on the point that the consultative process was rather involved and appeals were made to all members of the public to participate in the process, including those several Facebook Live ses-sions and the virtual meetings with many groups, including architects, agents, real estate agents, et cetera.
And I guess again, from kind of a personal perspective, I know the associations like ABIC and ABIR are valued partners in the international business space.
But I think the kind of primary motivation for
how we shape the city for the next decade plays to be
people centred. And so hopefully they participated.
They were invited, but I do not know if we should add
B ermuda Senate kind of primacy or precedence to them being consulted
directly.
Sen. Tawana Tannock: Thank you, Senator Fubler. I
always enjoy having discussions with you. I appreciate your feedback.
[
Laughter]
The President: Senator Fubler, it's left to you to pass
your motion.
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Thank you. And so . . . what's the
one I got here? All right.
Madam President, I appreciate the strong support for the Plan, from many of my colleagues, and the challenging, thought -provoking questions that have
been raised by the I ndependent Senator. They were
very welcome. I think it is important to challenge ideas so that we can arrive at what is the best option amongst the ones we have. And her questions especially highlight the importance of getting this right, not just on pa-per, but in practi ce.
And while this plan does not contain all of the
answers as highlighted during the question- and-answer period, it provides the framework and tools for us to respond to the evolving needs of our city. I take seri-ously the issues raised today and commit to co llaborating with stakeholders to ensure this P lan delivers
meaningful outcomes that today mark the beginning of that process.
And Madam President, I now move that the
motion be approved.
The President: Is there any objection to the approval
of the motion?
No objection. The motion is approved.
[
Motion carried: The City of Hamilton Plan 2025 was
approved.]
The President: Thank you, Senator Fubler, and thank
you, Senators. We will move on.
MOTIONS
The President: There are none.
QUESTION PERIOD
[
Recommitted]
The President: And before we move on to item 15,
Congratulatory and/or O bituary Speeches, I would just
like to inform Senators that Minister C aesar, in her capacity as s pokesperson for Finance [in the Senate] , to
3 See Parliamentary Question asked by Senator Marcus J ones on page 286 pr
ovide answers to questions raised on the Bill, the
Customs Tariff Amendment Act [sic] earlier.
She does have those answers for you, and I
would just like to make a comment, and that is, prior to Minister C aesar providing her answers, I want to advise
that there will be no supplemental debate as the Bill has
already passed. She i s only providing the answers to
the questions posed this morning as she announced that she would do.
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Thank you, Madam
President.
The President: Senator Caesar, you have the floor.
BERMUDA MONETARY AUTHORITY
ANNUAL REPORT 2024
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Thank you, Madam
President, and it's actually the Bermuda Monetary Au-thority Annual Report [2024] questions that I will be
speaking to. And I do thank the technical officers for
providing this information in such an efficient and timely
manner so as to provide the responses today.
I will read the question and then the answer
provided.
3The question was, H ow does the Bermuda
Monetary Authority manage the rapid expansion of digital finance growth in Bermuda with robust consumer
protection? The answer is that the BMA ensures effective oversight of Bermuda's rapidly evolving digital sec-tor through a comprehensive and adaptive approach. This includes a specific focus on ensuring that licenced entities are adhering to their conduct obligations to treat customers fairly. The BMA continues to update the
framework to address emerging risks and align with international standards.
With the growing sector, there comes increased fee revenue which allows for a growing team that closely supervises all licenced FinTech firms and
supports innovation through the regulatory sandbox. It should be noted that our BMA supervisors are very ex-perienced in the F inTech sector as the BMA has been
supervising this sector since 2018.
The BMA actively monitors the market to ensure all relevant activities are appropriately regulated
and has strategically developed relationships with other
regulators through a memorandum of understanding which will assist with effective oversight and also is a
member of other regulatory bodies such as IOSCO, FSB Regional Consultancy Group, Global Financial In-novation Network, and they focus on emerging issues
assisting the BMA to keep the regulatory framework
and applications current.
There was another question, Madam President, with regard to executive compensation. Given the
360 5 June 202 5 Official Hansard Report
B ermuda Senate dramatic increase in compensation and board fees,
what benchmarks or standards were used for the in-creases in compensation? And the answer is that in order to obtain and maintain requisite talent that allows for the BMA to achieve a globally recognised status, such as equivalence under the EU's Solvency II Directive and recognition by the US NAIC, for which very
few jurisdictions have achieved, the BMA uses bench-marks that involve comparable foreign regulatory bod-ies and also local factors given the BMA is also in competition locally in a number of skill set areas.
Salaries and benefits have grown year over
year, proportionate to the change in the BMA's head-count. The BMA's recognition by foreign regulators ul-timately benefits Bermuda and the financial sector, al-lowing financial services companies to set up in Ber-muda and operate globally with minimum overseas hur-dles such as reduced collateral requirements being imposed upon them by other jurisdictions. This provides
this jurisdiction a competitive advantage, making it more attractive for financial services.
Assessors not only review whether regulatory
frameworks meet the standard, but assessment also includes both the quantity of staff and their respective
skills to implement the frameworks. The BMA is as-sessed by international standard setters, and it is re-quired to have a complement of staff that is sufficient
enough to regulate and supervise the given size, na-ture, and complexity of the business it regulates. Not
only does Bermuda have one of the largest insurance
markets in the world, but it is also the home of four des-ignated international active insurance groups (IAIGs) that are subject to the highest international standards and scrutiny.
Anything less than the required staffing complement, both in number and skill sets, would nega-tively affect Bermuda's reputation and result in Ber-muda not being viewed as well as its peers. Therefore, appropriate staff and corporate governance of the BMA is required.
The year -over-year variance in compensation
is largely attributed to increases in headcount due to the aforementioned explanation. The board compensa-tion is part of a regular assessment of the BMA's board effectiveness and includes a review of both perfor-mance and skill sets. A strong contributor to the organisation's success is that the board members are fairly compensated for their oversight of the BMA's strategy, risk, and management.
Compensation remained fairly static in the recent past years. Similarly, the salary for the CEO's po-sition had been the same for approximately the last
decade prior to the 2024 increase.
I believe I answered the question with regard
to the nature of staff, whether they are local versus
work permit holders. I answered that earlier today.
Finally, the last question is information sharing
with regard to the corporate income tax. What is the
level of information shared by the BMA with the Ministry of Finance and the newly formed CIT Commission with
regard to entities that have declared deferred tax as-sets to the BMA? Does the BMA provide feedback on this? The response is that the BMA continues to cooperate with all local agencies, including the CIT, to the extent that it is allowed under the law. Therefore, cooperation has included the sharing of best practices and
other capacity -building information.
The BMA does not have statutory powers to
share information with the CITA regarding confidential
licensee information. However, the authority does have the statutory power to share information with the Ministry of Finance and may share any information requested by the Ministry of Finance that is required to assist in carrying out its statutory duties and functions.
Thank you for your indulgence, Madam President. I believe I have answered the questions from to-day.
The President: Thank you, Minister Crystal Caesar.
We appreciate you taking the time to get the answers and to provide it. We will now move on to—oh . . .
POINT OF CLARIFICATION
[Payroll Tax Amendment Act 2025]
Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: Madam President, in
the spirit of moving on, I have a point of clarification—
The President: Yes.
Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: —and that was in response to a question asked by Senator Cunningham in relation to the Payroll T ax Amendment.
I think her specific question was about whether
there was a cap on the remuneration. My colleague,
Senator Caesar, was answering there is no cap, but we still thought it was under the statutory section.
I did have to look it up, Senator Cunningham,
and it is not. It is just tied to remuneration under 7(1)(c)
of the primary Act, which is the Payroll Tax Act 1995,
which really refers to any money that is in connection
with the termination. Whether your golden handshake might be eligible is a question of the particular contract, but if the remuneration is in fact tied to the termination of the employment or the redundancy, the employee
portion of the tax is waived. The employer will still have
to pay its share on your hefty handshake. Thank you.
The President: Thank you, Minister Wilkerson, for giving that [clarification].
Senator Lindsay Simmons, you have a—
[
Inaudible interjection]
The President: Yes. We will move on now.
Senator Lindsay Simmons, you have indicated
you—
B ermuda Senate Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Yes, Madam President .
The President: — want to speak. You can speak now.
CONGRATULATORY AND/OR OBITUARY
SPEECHES
Sen. Lindsay Simmons: Thank you, Madam President.
First of all, I wanted to highlight and congratulate Tahjae Welch. Tahjae won the international award,
the FMI Food Industry Association 2025 Store Manager
Award. He . . . it was a global pool of hundreds of entrants. Mr. Welch competed, and then once he won that pool, he then competed against two other finalists in the International Retailers category and won. But I wanted
to highlight, if you do not mind, Madam President,
something that he said that I think should be heard—not just seen but heard. He said, “ To be recognised on
a global scale in the grocery industry just shows other young males of the community that there is still a young man out there doing positive things.”
He added, “Leading by example— it makes a
big impact.”
He works at A1 in Paget. His parents were
there to congratulate him. His MarketPlace family was there, and friends and family were there. This is a huge accomplishment, especially in a time when we have so
many negativities out there with our young Black
males. He's the youngest manager to work in The MarketPlace. So I just want to, again, congratulate Tahjae Welch for his award that he won, because that's phe-nomenal.
On another note, Madam President, I would
like to give condolences to Clyde Darrell's family. When I started to run in constituency 10, I was told to come to
Mr. Darrell, and Mr. Darrell welcomed me into his home, and he had my back. His whole neighbourhood, he would send them messages and let them know that
I was there. And he was the reason why I started collecting the trash on Bridle Hill. He told me about the issues on Bridle Hill. So I want to say condolences to his wife, Dawn Darrell, his daughter, Katrina, his son, Clyde Jr., his grandchildren, Josiah, Anaiah, Aaria, and Aiden Darrell. May he rest in peace.
I also want to give condolences to the family of
Ralph Eugene Bean, Sr., known as “Gumbo.” He was an intricate part of the sports community, especially in our village. So condolences to his wife, Carol Bean, his son, Ralph Jr., and his daughter, I know as Nikki, but
Robin Nicole Smith, her husband, Clay, and their
grandchildren.
I also want to give condolences to the family of
Brackston (Braxton) Ronald Llewellyn Simmons. He
was a proud father of Linda Bogle -Mienzer , her wife,
Christine, Roseann “Buffy ” Mienzer , as well as his
grandchildren and also . . . the whole family. So condolences to the Simmons -Mienzer family. And the last person I wanted to give . . . well,
two more, sorry . . . to give condolences to Chriss Russell Thomas and his family on the passing of Chriss to his son, Chrishan, who is my cousin, and all his family and friends condolences.
And lastly, I would like to give, sorry, two more.
I want to also give condolences to the family of Honnee Smith , who tragically lost her life, to her aunt Ashley.
Condolences to you, Callahj, and Jenny. You guys are in my prayers —and her daughter, Halia.
And lastly, I promise, I want to give condolences to the family of Olive Layne. Olive also lives in
constituency 10. And I just wanted to give condolences
to her son, Cyril, her daughter -in-law, Kenlene Steede,
her grandchildren, Moses Steede, and to the w hole
family. May she also rest in peace.
Thank you, Madam President.
The President: Thank you, Senator.
I see your hand, Senator Victoria Cunningham.
You have the floor.
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: Well, I did not think I was
going to be here tonight, so I did them a little early. But
I want to now congratulate our Gombey Warriors for their amazing 5- 0 victory.
[
Desk thumping]
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: They are one step closer
to the World Cup. I think Bermuda, the entire Island, is going to be behind them. I want to particularly highlight Zeiko Lewis, who's a young man I've been working with, who scored at the 12- minute penalty on his 31st
birthday. So, congratulations to the entire team, the
manager of the team, I think it's coach Michael Findlay.
And I want to say Bermuda is proud of you. So, let's keep going.
The President: Yes.
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: And secondly, even
though she just beat me to the punch, I would like to wish our Senate colleague, Lindsay Simmons, a happy birthday for tomorrow.
[
Desk thumping]
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: Thank you for skilfully
handing two Ministry briefs today.
The President: Yes, absolutely.
Sen. Victoria Cunningham: You were complaining
about how much speaking you could do. Well, you could just give us time for more questions and then you wouldn't have to speak so long.
[
Laughter]
362 5 June 202 5 Official Hansard Report
B ermuda Senate Sen. Victoria Cunningham: But I think you deserve a
well-deserved break. And thank you for the cake.
The President: Would any other Senator?
Yes, Senator Tawana Tannock, you have the
floor.
Sen. Tawana Tannock: Yes. Thank you, Madam President. I would just like to send get well soon wishes to
my mom who is hospitalised. I was not able to visit her today because I was in this Chamber. But I know . . . if
I know her, she is probably listening. So Mommy, get
well s oon. I love you.
The President: And we will join you in wishing her well,
too.
Would any other Senator care to— Senator
Crystal Caesar, you have the floor.
Sen. the Hon. Crystal Caesar: Thank you, Madam
President. I know that these two gentlemen in particular
have been mentioned in another place, but I thought it fitting to end, also earlier this week.
But I would like to pay my respects to the families, firstly, of counsellor and former Senator and law-yer Larry Scott. I pay my respects to his family in that he was very much well known for being a drive for so-cial justice and was still serving as a counsellor at the time of his passing. I would like to . . . he is very well
known as the consummate gentleman. He was very vo-cal on issues of social justice in Bermuda, and I believe that he will definitely be a miss.
And finally, for me, I would like to speak on
somebody who is near and dear to my heart. In fact, he was the father of my very first friend in that she and I
were crib mates, and they were neighbours of mine for
a long time. And I speak of none other than [Dr.] Melvyn Bassett.
He has contributed much over the years to the
Bermuda community, very well known in Somerset and
Island wide as an educator and obviously the principal
at the Sandys Secondary Middle School. He presided over the change back in . . . 20- some years ago now
from a secondary school to a middle school. He also
was instrumental in seeing the construction of Sandys 360. And we are hoping that with time that it will come
back to its former glory because it was a vision of his
and very much a . . . much needed commu nity location
for young people.
He presided over the Association of School
Principals, served as vice chairman of the Bermuda Middle School Association. He was very instrumental
with the National Drug Commission, the Police Advisory Committee, and the Archibald Drug Commission. I mean, there was just no end to what this gentleman did in terms of serving Bermuda.
Most notably for me, as I said, he was the father of my very first friend and stood with me at the very
last two elections, the very last one and the one before. He said, O h, I can give a couple of hours . And so he'd
come and then stay till the end.
Just an extraordinary gentleman. His family will
miss him tremendously. His daughter, Rusheika, and
his son- in-law . . . her husband, I expressed to them
and their five children, his grandchildren, which he
doted on tremendously. In fact, I was quite surprised to
hear that he had passed as he had just attended two of their graduations mere weeks, maybe days before his untimely passing.
I know that he was very respected, like I said,
in the Somerset community and Island wide. And so I
do express my condolences at his passing. Oh, and I'd
like to say he also shares the birthday, same birthday as my mom. So that was always . . . they would always
call each other on their birthdays.
Thank you, Madam President.
The President: And thank you, Senator Caesar.
Would any other Senator care to speak?
Hearing none, then it's —sorry, you wanted to
speak.
Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: I do, Madam President.
Thank you.
The President: Senator Wilkerson.
Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: I had already certainly
raised condolences to the family of Melvyn Bassett. But I certainly appreciate my colleague's personal reminis-cence of him. And he was absolutely a figure in our neighbourhood.
Madam President, I rise to congratulate the organisers last evening for the event put on by the Sargasso Sea Commission in Bermuda in advance of
World Ocean Day, which is on Saturday.
And I had the pleasure, well, I was not watching
the football because I went to see the film, Ocean, nar-rated by the great David Attenborough at BUEI. And I
simply wanted to say it was a . . . the film was beautiful
and disturbing at the same time when we think about
what is happening with our oceans and the ocean is the thing that unites all of the wor ld and its people. And
what we have to do to continue to protect the ocean. And this film and the panel discussion that followed really highlighted the role that Bermuda plays because of
our unique position in the world and in the ocean in driv-ing forward change around protection.
And so in that regard, I do want to call out and
congratulate, not that they may be listening at this point in time, Fae Sapsford, who is a Marine Research Fellow with the Sargasso Sea Commission, and her colleague, Ali Hochberg, who hosted the panel last night,
which also included Dr. Mark Guishard from BIOS, J.P.
Rouja for all of the amazing work that he's doing around environmental DNA tracking, along with Carika Wel-don, where there is no end to her capacity. And we also
B ermuda Senate heard from Jessica Mello on aspects of the blue economy.
So, a well . . . really, really well done set of
presentations, and certainly a call to action around the
ocean. So, I wanted to congratulate them and certainly make all of Bermuda aware that we have a role to play.
And certainly, there are a number of events going on
Saturday, down at the Aquarium, at BUEI and so on in
relation to World Ocean Day.
But I think that people should take away that as
we approach summer , and as we think about how we're
engaging with the ocean, that we continue to be mindful
about our use of plastics, about how we treat things,
what we take away, because this is a resource that will continue to pay us back if we treat it properly.
Thank you, Madam President.
The President: Thank you, Minister Wilkerson, Madam
Attorney General, and Leader in the—Government Leader in the Senate.
Would any other Senator care to speak? Oh, I didn't see you for a moment.
Sen. Mischa Fubler: I wasn't —I wasn't putting my
hand up quite high enough there.
The President: Senator Fubler, you have the floor.
Sen. Mischa Fubler: Thank you. And I guess I'll start
out by associating myself with the comments from Sen-ator Cunningham for our Gombey Warriors. It was a delight to watch them put several goals into the Cay-man Islands, especially in the second half. A pleasure to watch.
And then also, I would like to extend congratulations to the charity Bermuda is Love, and many of you, and if you have not yet, I encourage you to go check out their social media. This month, their cam-paign, which changes month to month, so commenda-ble, they're putting in quite a lot of volunteer effort, is
focused on housing and having . . . encouraging people
to kind of rethink the commodification of housing. You
know, one of their central tenets is that housing is a hu-man right, and it's something that I agree with personally. And so congratulations to them, June 2025, they are encouraging you to join them.
And then finally, I would also like to extend congratulations to Out Bermuda. They, at the past week-end, had another instance of their Tea Time, which are smaller sessions intended to provide Q&A session and introduction to members of the LGBTQ community, as well as allies, so that they can familiarise themselves
with their current executive, as well as provide some
detail around the events that are coming up next month, actually, culminating with July 5th being the Pride Pa-rade and the, I guess concert, for lack of a better word, in the park. And just to declare my interest, I am one of the performers. I'll be DJing, as I have been since its
inception. So come down if you like to dance, or if you
want to help provide support.
[
Laughter]
Sen. Mischa Fubler: I'm sure most of us in the listening public, many of us have a family member who is a
member of the community, and who may be apprehen-sive about living in their truth. And so you, as an ally, or just someone who thinks that they should be able to exist in our society, should join the parade, because
this was something that stood out from the presentation.
Our participation helps to provide cover for
those who may not quite yet be comfortable in coming
out, as it were, but they can then participate. They en-courage you, those of us who work for entities who like to sponsor and send groups to participate, that you
should participate as well to help provide cover, as it were. But again, congratulations to both of those groups.
And I'll wrap up there, because it is quite late.
Thank you, Madam President.
The President: Thank you, Minister Fubler.
Minister Wilkerson, Attorney General and Government Leader in the Senate, it is over to you.
ADJOURNMENT
Sen. the Hon. Kim Wilkerson: Thank you, Madam
President.
I now move that the Senate adjourn until July 2.
The President: Thank you.
Would any Senator care to speak on the motion to adjourn?
Hearing none. I thank you all for your attendance today and the hard work that you were able to ac-complish.
The Senate stands adjourned. Thank you.
[
At 8:09 pm, the Senate stood adjourned until
10:00 am, Wednesday, 2 July 2025.]
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